Theory of Cognitive Development

Jean Piaget

• 1896-1980 • Born in Neuchatel, Switzerland • Was the eldest child, and as such was precocious (bright for his age) • Strong interest in seashells, initially

• Piaget was interested in philosophy, psychology & religion • He worked with Simon, of the Simon-Binet intelligence testing, but Piaget was more concerned with how children learn, rather than distinguishing right/wrong • His academic work forms the basis for our current educational system

• He married Valentine Chatenay in 1923 and together they had 2 daughters followed by 1 son • After a lifetime of efforts he was known as ‘one of the most significant psychologists of the 20 th century’

1. Sensorimotor Period

• Lasts from birth to 2 years of age The child: • uses his senses and his increasing motor skills to explore the environment • begins to use to use language to imitate and represent the environment

Seriation is…

• The placing or grouping of like objects together

Object Permanence or Person Permanence is when • The child learns that an object or person continues to exist even when not in sight

Egocentric

• The child is aware only of himself and his own likes, dislikes, and wants • He cannot see other people’s perspectives

Assimilation means…

• To incorporate new ideas into an existing schema (or concept) • i.e. – a ball

Accommodation means…

• To adapt old schema (concept) and develop new schema for interacting with it • when a child adapts his/her existing ideas to fit new understandings • For example…

• According to Piaget: Assimilation + Accommodation = Learning

2. Pre-operational Period

• Lasts from 2 – 7 years of age • The child can speak and print words • His memory and imagination develops • His thinking is often not logical • Much ego-centric thinking occurs • He learns that symbols represent something else; for example…

•

A Stop sign means to STOP!

3. Concrete Operations Period

• Lasts from 7-11 years of age • The child has the ability to do simple math and measurement, with manipulatives • He begins to understand cause & effect • He can think about real, concrete things in systematic ways, but cannot understand abstract concepts • He is no longer egocentric (he can now understand other people’s points of view)

• A number line is useful for math

Conservation means…

• The amount, weight, volume & number of things stays the same even when the outward appearance of objects or groups is changed

A short glass of water is the same amount as a tall glass half full of water

Reversability means…

• An action can be undone or reverted to its previous state

A ball of clay…

Can be made into a clay bowl

But it can be reformed into a ball of clay

4. Formal Operations Period

• Lasts from about 11 – 15 years of age • A child is able to think and reason in purely abstract terms (in his head, without having concrete items in front of him) • He is able to use logic and abstract thinking • He questions previously accepted thoughts, ideas and values

Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development