Piaget’s theory of Cognitive Development AO3

Question 1

What are the strengths of Piaget’s theory?

Answer 1

• There is real life application (teaching)
• there is research to support it, for exampl Howe et al’s study

Question 2

Explain how Piaget’s theory can be applied to teaching.

Answer 2

• He suggested children can learn through exploring their environment
• This encouraged schoto transform from rigid and silent environments to activity-orientated and included the use of discovery learning
• Teachers also started encouraging students to develope their own understanding of the curriculum

Question 3

Explain Howe et al’s study.

Answer 3

• Children ages 9-12 were asked to discuss in groups the movement of object down a slope
• At the end children reported an increase in knowlege regarding the subject
• However they didn’t all come to the same conclusions
• This shows each child has their own mental representations due to their differing experiences

Question 4

What is a counter of piaget’s suppoaed positive affect on teaching?

Answer 4

• Lazonder and Harthsen
• They suggested there is no firm evidence that shows discovery learning is effective

Question 5

What are the weaknesses of Piaget’s theory?

Answer 5

• The sample isn’t representative
• he underestimates the importance of others in learning as he believed it was an individual process whereas othet studies with stronger support (like Vygotsky’s) focuses on the social aspect

Question 6

Why is Piaget’s theory not representative?

Answer 6

• The sample used in the study consisted of children of the nursery attached to the university the study was taking place
• this means they were mostly from white wealthy families
• this means they may have had better educational oppotunities and therefore display more intellectual curiosity than those from poorer families