Considering the work of key pioneers and current experts with links to child development theory. There are many theories about how children learn and develop. This area of study is called developmental psychology which covers subjects such as cognitive, language and emotional development. The research methods are based heavily on the on going assessments carried out by observing children over a period of time. Assessment is part of the process of understanding what children know, understand and can do so that future teaching steps can be appropriately planned.
Outline and evaluate Piaget’s constructivist theory of cognitive development In order to put Piaget's model into context it is useful to consider what intellect is, and some of the factors that influence cognitive development of the child. Additionally I will briefly discuss the term ‘constructivist’. Child development is generally concerned with how the child learns and expresses themselves at various ages. Typically studies are carried out on children from birth to adolescence. Specifically, most psychologists are interested in the processes that occur at particular ages, and what the child's capabilities are at each stage of their childhood.
Early childhood is a time of remarkable cognitive development. Cognitive abilities associated with memory, reasoning, problem-solving and thinking continue to emerge throughout childhood. Children during this stage are learning to figure out the world around them. It is hard not to mention the work of psychologist Jean Piaget, One of the key concepts in Piaget's theory is the use of
EDU10002 Understanding Language and Literature Assessment 1 There are many theoretical perspectives explaining how children develop and acquire language. Two well recognised cognitive psychologists, Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky, developed theories that addressed cognitive development and learning among children. Both theorists explore the development of a child’s way of thinking and examine the processes in how these developmental stages occur and impact on a child’s acquisition of language. Whilst there are similarities between the two theories, there are also significant differences. Language acquisition is the cognitive process where humans acquire the ability to perceive and comprehend language, as well as to produce and use words and sentences to communicate with one another (Friederici 2011).
Principal Psychological Perspectives and Understanding Individual Development P1- Explain the principal psychological perspectives applied to the understanding of the development of individuals Cognitive Cognitive development is the construction of thought processes, including remembering, problem solving, and decision-making, from childhood through adolescence to adulthood. Theories: * According to psychologist Jean Piaget, children progress through a series of four key stages of cognitive development. Each stage is marked by shifts in how children understand the world: the Sensorimotor Stage, from birth to age 2; the Preoperational Stage, from age 2 to about age 7; the Concrete Operational Stage, from age 7 to 11; and the Formal Operational Stage, which begins in adolescence and spans into adulthood. Cognitive Stage | | Sensorimotor Stage(Birth-2 years) | During the sensorimotor stage infants learn mostly through trial and error learning. Children initially rely on reflexes, eventually modifying them to adapt to their world.
Wilkinson states that these assessment aspects arose from an ‘interaction between our perceptions of the written materials, teachers’ judgements and theoretical considerations’ (Wilkinson, A., Barnsley, G. P., Hanna, P., & Swan, M., 1980). It is here that Wilkinson’s model of children’s development in writing is particularly helpful as it shows that the child has developed their quality of thought in a cognitive capacity; the child shows an awareness of the world and an ability to describe, interpret, generalise and speculate on it (Winch et al, 2010). Other ways that teachers may help children to expand on their development are through the use of VELS speaking and listening standards. Where students are given opportunities to use spoken language appropriately in a variety of classroom contexts, ask and answer simple questions for information and clarification and to produce brief spoken texts that deal with familiar ideas and information (VCAA, 2006). The ability of a child to draw on cognitive thought and view the world around them relates to the Piagetian Theory of child development.
Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development Jean Piaget (1896-1980) studied how children’s thought processes develop and has been very influential in our understanding of children’s cognitive development. He believed that interaction with peers was the most critical factor in children’s cognitive development. ‘He described children as ‘"little scientists," actively constructing their own theories about the world, testing these theories, and adjusting to new information’ (quote taken from Kendra's Psychology Blog at about.com: Psychology). He suggested mental plans - schemas (schemata) function as guides for action, as structure for interpreting information, as frameworks for solving problems. (For full explanation on schemas, conservation, assimilation and accommodation and explanations of terminology see appendix 2).
Bandura holds that behavior is learnt through observational learning process from the environment. Children observe the individuals around them behaving in certain ways. The paper, therefore, focuses on explaining what social learning theory is in detail through looking at its implications on children. In this theory, people that are being observed are known as models. In all societies, children are surrounded by a variety of influential objects including guardians or parents in the family, friends in their peer groups, teachers at schools and religious institutions, and characters on television (Akers, 2009).
A) Compare and contrast any two of the methodologies that you have pursued in this phase and write a comparative essay. There are numerous approaches to early childhood education. Two perspectives, developed by Friedrich Froebel and Maria Montessori, have similarities as well as many differences. Both approaches are based on the idea that early childhood learning is holistic and intertwined with the developmental progression of the child. They are both constructivist, holding that children learn through constructing meaning with their world.
Cognitive Development “Cognitive Development always takes place within a social and cultural context.” Vygotsky believed that cognitive development is strongly influenced by social and cultural factors. Vygotsky agreed with Piaget that children may be able to reach a particular cognitive level through their own efforts. However, Vygotsky (1978, 1987) argued that children are able to attain higher levels of cognitive development through the support and instruction that they receive from other people. Researchers have confirmed that social interaction, especially with older children and adults, play a significant role in a child’s cognitive development. One of Vygotsky’s important ideas was his notion of the Zone of proximal development (ZPD).