Approaches and methods to teaching have been greatly influenced by the conducted research of Lev Vygotsky and Jean Piaget. Both of these psychologists have contributed to the field of education by offering explanations for children 's cognitive abilities and learning styles. While Vyotsky and Piaget may differ on how they view cognitive development in children, both of them offer good proposals on how to teach certain material in a developmentally appropriate manner and in a fitting way. Piaget 's theory focuses on intelligence and how it changes as children grow up. While, Vygotsky 's theory centers on the social action and he defines intelligence as the capacity to learn from teaching.
Piaget believed that children actively try to make sense …show more content…
He also emphasized that cognitive development is strongly influenced by social and cultural factors unlike the biological approach of Jean Piaget. In his later work, Vygotsky introduced the concept of the zone of proximal development, which he theorized is the difference between what a learner can do without help and what he or she can do with help. In this concept, through the use of language, children can master concepts with an adult or more advanced peer that they do not understand on their own. Eventually, through the tools learned from others, the child will be able to master the concepts on his own. Vygotsky also argued that culture provides the child with cognitive tools needed for development. Some of these tools include but are not limited to social context, content, and language. Through language, the child can interact with a more knowledgeable person and will acquire the ways of thinking and behaving that make up a culture. According to Vygotsky, the role of interaction, language and culture have a direct impact on the child’s cognitive
Piaget believed that children actively try to make sense …show more content…
He also emphasized that cognitive development is strongly influenced by social and cultural factors unlike the biological approach of Jean Piaget. In his later work, Vygotsky introduced the concept of the zone of proximal development, which he theorized is the difference between what a learner can do without help and what he or she can do with help. In this concept, through the use of language, children can master concepts with an adult or more advanced peer that they do not understand on their own. Eventually, through the tools learned from others, the child will be able to master the concepts on his own. Vygotsky also argued that culture provides the child with cognitive tools needed for development. Some of these tools include but are not limited to social context, content, and language. Through language, the child can interact with a more knowledgeable person and will acquire the ways of thinking and behaving that make up a culture. According to Vygotsky, the role of interaction, language and culture have a direct impact on the child’s cognitive