Vygotsky’s views on cognitive development complements...

Methods and approaches to teaching have been greatly influenced by the research of Jean Piaget and Lev Vygotsky. Both have contributed to the field of education by offering explanations for childrens cognitive learning styles and abilities. This essay will discuss how rather than being an alternative, Vygotsky’s views on cognitive development complements Piaget’s. Initially, the term cognitive will be defined before having a look at Piaget’s stages of cognitive development and subsequently analyzing how Vygotsky’s views complement Piaget’s. Flanagan (1996:72) states that, ‘Cognitive development is the acquisition of mental process involved in thinking and mental activity, such as attention, memory and problem solving.’ It is therefore a†¦show more content†¦Finally, in the formal operational stage, age twelve to fifteen, the child has become more adult-like in their thought structures and processes. They begin to reason logically, systematically and hypothetically. (Jarvis, Chandler 2001 P.139). In other words, they can imagine things that do not exist or that they have never experienced. This stage is generally like the preceding stage but at a more advanced level. The formal operational person is capable of meta-cognition, that is, thinking about thinking. Piaget also theorized on Adaptation, and Development. The adaptation theory (also known as the Constructivist theory) involved three fundamental processes, which contributed to the child’s cognitive development. These are assimilation, accommodation, and equilibrium. Assimilation involved the incorporation of new events into pre-existing cognitive structures. Accommodation is the adjustment involved in the formation of new mental structures needed to accommodate new information. Equilibration involved the person striking a balance between him and the environment, between assimilation and accommodation. When a child experienced a new event, disequilibrium set in until he was able to assimilate and accommodate the new information and thus attain equilibrium. There were many different types of equilibrium between assimilation and accommodation, which varied with the levels of development and the problems, which needed to be solved.Show MoreRelatedTheories of Teaching and Learning Essay1791 Words   |  8 Pagessingular theory or theorist that encompasses everything that is required in a modern classroom. Some of the most important theories of learning are motivation, constructivism and behaviourism. Teachers choose their teaching style and strategy to complement their students, to arrive at their own personal version of the most effective teacher they can be. Eggen Kauchak (2010, p. 390) state, a teacher â€Å"maximises student learning† and this is what all teachers should strive to achieve. In looking atRead MoreLink Between Education And Psychology Essay2175 Words   |  9 Pagesinformation for analysing behaviour and personality so that the roles of behaviour management and emotional intelligence in providing for better teaching and learning environment have become very evident in educational practice. Education and Psychology complement each other. While education is concerned with aims, ideals and standards of life, psychology determines whether these aims are attainable or not. †¢ Psychology is the study of human behaviour while Education is the process of amending humanRead MoreRelationship Between Education And Psychology Essay2172 Words   |  9 Pageshas made a distinct contribution to education through its analysis of pupils’ potentialities and differences.† According to Skinner, â€Å"The entire range of behaviour and personality is related to educational psychology.† Education and Psychology complement each other. While education is concerned with aims, ideals and standards of life, psychology determines whether these aims are attainable or not. †¢ Psychology is the study of human behaviour while Education is the process of amending human