Development and learning of a child coincide, however, which one leads to which? Two of the most influential psychologist, Jean Piaget and Lev Semenovich Vygotsky, did not come to the same conclusion. Piaget’s cognitive development theory argues that “development leads learning,” while Vygotsky's states in his sociocultural theory of development that “learning leads development.” Both Piaget's and Vygotsky's theories have given people, especially teachers, a greater understanding on how children grow, learn, and implicate their theories into the classroom.
Jean Piaget (1896-1980), proposes that “development leads learning.” He believed that our thinking processes change radically, from birth to maturity as we strive to understand the world around us. (Woolfolk, Winne, & Perry, 2016). Piaget saw children as “highly competent thinkers” and that they were naturally curious and motivated to learn (Conkbayir & Pascal, 2014, p.66). The adult’s role in a child’s life would be to encourage their curiosity and promote development (Conkbayir & Pascal, 2014). Piaget’s theories consist of the four stages of cognitive development and the concept of schemas, adaptation, and equilibrium.
Emphasizing that every child passes through the sequential stages, Piaget …show more content…
One implication is that teachers need to consider which stage their students are at and what teaching strategies should be used (Joubish & Khurram, 2011). Students who are in the concrete operational stage are not able and ready to learn and understand abstract concepts, whereas students in the formal operational stage can. However, because of Piaget’s theory, we can underestimate children's abilities. In addition, teachers can easily treat the children the same as if they were all on the same level. This can be detrimental as teachers should pay attention to each student individually and recognize if they need additional
Jean Piaget (1896-1980), proposes that “development leads learning.” He believed that our thinking processes change radically, from birth to maturity as we strive to understand the world around us. (Woolfolk, Winne, & Perry, 2016). Piaget saw children as “highly competent thinkers” and that they were naturally curious and motivated to learn (Conkbayir & Pascal, 2014, p.66). The adult’s role in a child’s life would be to encourage their curiosity and promote development (Conkbayir & Pascal, 2014). Piaget’s theories consist of the four stages of cognitive development and the concept of schemas, adaptation, and equilibrium.
Emphasizing that every child passes through the sequential stages, Piaget …show more content…
One implication is that teachers need to consider which stage their students are at and what teaching strategies should be used (Joubish & Khurram, 2011). Students who are in the concrete operational stage are not able and ready to learn and understand abstract concepts, whereas students in the formal operational stage can. However, because of Piaget’s theory, we can underestimate children's abilities. In addition, teachers can easily treat the children the same as if they were all on the same level. This can be detrimental as teachers should pay attention to each student individually and recognize if they need additional