Piaget's Schema Theory Flashcards
What type of theorist is Piaget?
He is a constructivist theorist.
He believed that children are active learners- they need to see, do and experience things in order to learn.
His theory focused on the development of schemas to explain how children think and learn.
What is a schema?
It is a repeated action to create a mental structure.
It is used to make sense of the world around us.
What is the development of schemas?
Piaget believed there were 4 key processes involved in the development of schemas:
ASSIMILATION
DISEQUILIBRIUM
ACCOMODATION
EQUILIBRIUM
What is assimilation?
It is when a child constructs an understanding of a concept.
It is similar information filling in the understanding to be added to the schema.
What is disequilibrium?
It is when new information is so unique that it doesn’t fit with any existing schemas.
It contradicts existing knowledge.
What is accomodation?
It is when an existing schema changes to take into account the new information or experience.
What is equilibrium?
It is a state of cognitive balance where a child’s existing schema can deal with new information through assimilation.
How can we apply this knowledge to early years practice?
Children are active learners so they need to participate in learning.
Use open ended questions about past experiences to develop schemas.
Allow children to explore at their own pace.
Wide range of activities and experiences develops more schemas through new experiences.
Explore ideas using various objects as children are active learners.
