Piaget

Question 1

The focus of cognitive/psychological constructivism…

Answer 1

How individuals use resources and help from others to build and improve their mental models and problem-solving capabilities

Question 2

Factors that influence changes in thought

Answer 2

• biological maturity
• activities
• social transmission
• equilibration

Question 3

Our 2 natural tendencies when learning

Answer 3

• organisation

- adaption

Question 4

Adaption involves….

Answer 4

• assimilation (incorporating info into existing structure)

- accommodation (changing structure itself to fit external reality)

Question 5

Organisation involves….

Answer 5

• combining info
• arranging similar info
• organising thinking into schemes

Question 6

The stages of cognitive development

Answer 6

1. Sensory-motor
2. Pre-operational
3. Concrete operational
4. Formal operational

Question 7

Sensory-motor stage

Answer 7

• age 0-2
• imitation and learning through object manipulation and senses
• develop object permanence

Question 8

Pre-operational stage

Answer 8

• age 2-7
• development of logical reasoning
• egocentric behaviour
• not mastered mental operations

Question 9

Concrete operational stage

Answer 9

• age 7-11
• can solve concrete problems
• cannot reason abstract or hypothetical problems

Question 10

Formal operational

Answer 10

• age 12+
• can reason hypothetically & deductively
• adolescent egocentrism

Question 11

Educational implications of Piaget’s theory

Answer 11

• concrete props must be provided
• discovery/inquiry learning should be used
• instruction should be adapted to learners’ level
• problems that require logical thinking should be included

Question 12

Criticisms of Piaget’s theory

Answer 12

• underestimated children’s abilities

- does not recognise the importance of culture for cog dev