There are three theories that explain the development of cognition in childhood. The first one is Piaget’s theory, Piaget believed that children are scientists since they control their own information from experimenting the world and they learn things on their own without the need of help from others. The second one is Vygotsky’s theory, Vygotsky believed that cognitive development comes from social interactions and guided learning within the zone of proximal development. Vygotsky stresses social and cultural effects on the child’s developing mind. The last theory is the information-processing theory; Information processing is where the human mind functions like a computer that processes information. This theory goes through how learning occurs,
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He believes that learning takes place within the zone of proximal development, which he defined as the transformation among what a child can do alone and his level of “Potential development as determined through problem solving under adult guidance or in collaboration with more capable peers” (Vygotsky 149). I agree with Vygotsky because when a student is in the Zone of proximal development for a certain task, giving them the right guidance will give the student enough “boost” to complete the task. Once a student is more capable, no one should get in the way of the student and allow them to direct their activities alone, which in the text is called scaffolding. I believe this to be the best theory because for example, when I was younger I was trying to learn how to ride a bike and I needed guidance first before I could master it alone. I felt better when someone was helping me learn how to pedal and steer, then I was able to fully master riding a bike on my own and they would slowly let me do it by myself. Vygotsky was correct, without the help and guidance from my parents I would be too afraid to learn how to ride a bike alone. In Piaget’s theory he was not a believer in active teaching. He thought children learned things on their own by exploring the world. Compared to Vygotsky’s theory, he thought instructions were crucial to development therefore, teaching is necessary for cognitive growth and I
He believes that learning takes place within the zone of proximal development, which he defined as the transformation among what a child can do alone and his level of “Potential development as determined through problem solving under adult guidance or in collaboration with more capable peers” (Vygotsky 149). I agree with Vygotsky because when a student is in the Zone of proximal development for a certain task, giving them the right guidance will give the student enough “boost” to complete the task. Once a student is more capable, no one should get in the way of the student and allow them to direct their activities alone, which in the text is called scaffolding. I believe this to be the best theory because for example, when I was younger I was trying to learn how to ride a bike and I needed guidance first before I could master it alone. I felt better when someone was helping me learn how to pedal and steer, then I was able to fully master riding a bike on my own and they would slowly let me do it by myself. Vygotsky was correct, without the help and guidance from my parents I would be too afraid to learn how to ride a bike alone. In Piaget’s theory he was not a believer in active teaching. He thought children learned things on their own by exploring the world. Compared to Vygotsky’s theory, he thought instructions were crucial to development therefore, teaching is necessary for cognitive growth and I