Psychological Development Masters in Ed Tech Summer 2003 December 31, 2018 Koehler | Siebenthal | Yadav

Koehler | Siebenthal | Yadav Piaget (1896 - 1980) Born: August 9, 1896 Died: September 17, 1980 Published his first paper at age 10. Earned his doctorate in natural sciences at 21. Began to study psychology, investigate how children reason. December 31, 2018 Koehler | Siebenthal | Yadav

Koehler | Siebenthal | Yadav Piaget Piaget’s theory of development is the most widely known theory of cognitive development. He was intrigued by children’s thoughts and behavior and worked to understand their cognitive development. December 31, 2018 Koehler | Siebenthal | Yadav

Koehler | Siebenthal | Yadav Piaget and Learning Learning happens through a process of assimilation and accommodation. Assimilation is a process of matching external reality to an existing cognitive structure. When there is an inconsistency between the learner’s cognitive structure and the thing being learned, the child will reorganize her thoughts, this is accommodation. We adjust our ideas to make sense of reality. December 31, 2018 Koehler | Siebenthal | Yadav

Koehler | Siebenthal | Yadav Piaget’s Four Stages Piaget believed that all children develop according to four stages based on how they see the world. The stages: 1. Sensorimotor (birth –2 years) 2. Preoperational (2-7) 3. Concrete operational (7-11) 4. Formal operations (12-15) December 31, 2018 Koehler | Siebenthal | Yadav

Koehler | Siebenthal | Yadav Sensorimotor Stage From birth to about 2 years, rapid change is seen throughout this stage. The child will: Explore the world through senses and motor activity In the early stages can’t tell difference between themselves and the environment If they can’t see something then it doesn’t exist Begin to understand cause and effect Can follow something with their eyes December 31, 2018 Koehler | Siebenthal | Yadav

Koehler | Siebenthal | Yadav Preoperational stage From 2 to 7 years The child will: Communicate better through speech Can imagine the future and reflect on the past Develop basic numerical abilities Very egocentric – view things happening around them from only one point of view – their’s. Have difficulty distinguishing fantasy from reality (ex: cartoon characters are real people). December 31, 2018 Koehler | Siebenthal | Yadav

Koehler | Siebenthal | Yadav …more preoperational Conservation of matter – understanding that something doesn’t change even though it looks different, shape is not related to quantity Can’t understand conservation of matter Example: Are ten coins set in a long line more than ten coins in a pile? Example: Is there less water if it is poured into a bigger container? December 31, 2018 Koehler | Siebenthal | Yadav

Koehler | Siebenthal | Yadav December 31, 2018 Koehler | Siebenthal | Yadav

Concrete Operational Stage From about 7 – to about 11 The child will: Capable of taking another person’s point of view ability to reason and generalize from the concrete knowledge increases Understands conservation of matter Unable to look at abstract side of things December 31, 2018 Koehler | Siebenthal | Yadav

Koehler | Siebenthal | Yadav Formal Operations From about 12 to about 15 The child can: Capable of thinking logically and abstractly. Be able to think about hypothetical situations Form and test hypotheses Organize information December 31, 2018 Koehler | Siebenthal | Yadav

Problems with Piaget’s theory Children often grasp ideas earlier than what Piaget found. Cognitive development across domains is inconsistent (e.g. better at reading than math) Studies have shown that development can to some degree be accelerated. December 31, 2018 Koehler | Siebenthal | Yadav