Theory Revisited The theory that is being revisited is Constructivism/Cognitive Development as viewed by Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky. Constructive theorists believe if a human being is to learn there are many factors that influence the learning process. Cognitive Development is influenced by experiences, culture, chronological age, mental age. In my research of Constructivism/Cognitive Development I became enlightened by the theories of Piaget and Vygotsky, both constructivists who shared the common belief that cognitive development must develop from constructivist environments. Although they shared this common belief about cognitive development and how knowledge is absorbed and built upon, I found differences in the methods of
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His theory incorporated how culture and social interactions with others were important to cognitive development of a child. Interacting with someone with more knowledge about the subject, whether it was an adult or another peer who helped the child acquires cognitive thinking skills and behavior. The concept of what Vygotsky’s theory was the zone of proximal development. I agree with Vygotsky’s quintessential concept relying on the fact that a child is able to accomplish a task with assistance from a peer with more knowledge about the subject or a skilled adult, reinforcing the theory that the child will eventually be able to accomplish the task on his own without the guidance of an adult or a knowledgeable peer. I have witnessed this in my own classroom several times as well as with my own child. Learning the terminology and concept of the theory supported my own …show more content…
What I question is how much the outside influence of the environment affects the child. My question or concern is whether the aspect of social culture can also be detrimental to the child. I realize that we are a multi-cultural country, but at times I feel that we may be more accommodating to the cultural aspect of learning and not reinforcing the child’s ability as an individual. As the child continues to move through the developmental stages, they will become more social and modeling after their peers from different cultures. Respecting the culture of each child and family is important as the child develops and I also believe that encouraging the child to be an individual is just as
His theory incorporated how culture and social interactions with others were important to cognitive development of a child. Interacting with someone with more knowledge about the subject, whether it was an adult or another peer who helped the child acquires cognitive thinking skills and behavior. The concept of what Vygotsky’s theory was the zone of proximal development. I agree with Vygotsky’s quintessential concept relying on the fact that a child is able to accomplish a task with assistance from a peer with more knowledge about the subject or a skilled adult, reinforcing the theory that the child will eventually be able to accomplish the task on his own without the guidance of an adult or a knowledgeable peer. I have witnessed this in my own classroom several times as well as with my own child. Learning the terminology and concept of the theory supported my own …show more content…
What I question is how much the outside influence of the environment affects the child. My question or concern is whether the aspect of social culture can also be detrimental to the child. I realize that we are a multi-cultural country, but at times I feel that we may be more accommodating to the cultural aspect of learning and not reinforcing the child’s ability as an individual. As the child continues to move through the developmental stages, they will become more social and modeling after their peers from different cultures. Respecting the culture of each child and family is important as the child develops and I also believe that encouraging the child to be an individual is just as