There are many different theories in regards to learning and this is due to the fact that we all learn in different ways. The theories of learning are not engraved in stone, with each one presenting its own insight into how people learn. Theories such as behaviourism, constructivism and social constructivism present their own definition of learning with the strengths and weaknesses of each being transparent. Considering these learning theories one can critically analyse and examine these approaches and how they can apply to teaching, promoting inclusive practice.
Learning can be defined as (Pritchard 2014):
• A change in behaviour as a result of experience or practice.
• The acquisition of knowledge.
• Knowledge gained through study.
• To gain
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In essence, his theory suggests that we do not learn because we developed rather we developed because we have learned. Learning being social means that children learn through social interactions with adults and their peers, which links to his idea of the ‘zone of proximal Development’ (ZPD) and ‘more knowledgeable other’ (MKO).
Vygotsky’s zone of proximal development was not a fully developed concept due to his death in 1934. But he defined it as:
The distance between the actual developmental level as determined by independent problem solving and the level of potential development as determined through problem solving under adult guidance, or in collaboration with more capable peers. (Vygotsky 1978, p.86)
The adult or peer are more able at a certain set of skills, which the individual is trying to acquire but is unable to do independently because the individual doesn’t have the knowledge or skills to advance. So the more able adult or peer assist the individual to acquire the knowledge and bridge the learning gap. This can be linked to teaching in schools where the teacher and peers bridge the cap across the ZPD. This also relates to the MKO idea where the MKO aids the learner with their more developed knowledge in a certain skill. In a school setting the teachers and peers would be considered more knowledgeable others while supporting a child understand a
The Zone of Proximal Development has to do with a child’s potential to do something. Everything that is learned and used after it is learned is someone’s “independent performance.” Anything above that and is assisted by being taught or physically shown is what is called “assisted performance.” Whatever is learned can be used over and over again with ease. There is no assistance necessary after it is learned. Sometimes a person approaches a situation where he or she does not know exactly what to do. That person can be taught. The potential and degree to which that person can be taught is what the “assisted performance” is all about. You cannot teach a newborn calculus but you can teach a college student calculus.
Lastly, there is a zone of proximity that Vygotsky believes in. This goes along with his group aspect of learning. He believes that one learns better through life interactions. (Woolfolk, 2004) Similarities in Piaget and Vygotsky In the article we were supposed to read for class this week it says “there are seven similarities: 1) a genetic, i.e., developmental, perspective; 2) a dialectical approach; 3) a non-reductionist view; 4) anon-dualistic thesis; 5) an emphasis on action; 6) a primacy of processes over external contents or outcomes; and 7) a focus on the qualitative changes over the quantitative ones.”
Powell, K. Kalina, C. (2009). Cognitive and Social Constructivism: Developing Tools for an Effective Classroom. Education, 130(2), 241-250. Retrieved from http://proquest.umi.com.dbgw.lis.curtin.edu.au/pqdweb?did=1937522441&Fmt=7&clientId=22212&RQT=309&VName=PQD. (Document ID: 1937522441).
The period of childhood is the most significant in the establishment of human beings as mature, independent and socially active people. Thus, no wonder that children 's psychological development was thoroughly studied by such psychologists as Piaget, Freud, Vygotsky and many more. All of them have seen their own principles of development and pointed the key topics and elements that influenced the most. Why is it so important to explore the childhood development? Multiple researches and evidences show that the brain is especially sponge like during the first few years of growing up. This is the time, when kids
Lev Semenovich Vygotsky is a sociocultural theorist that believed cognitive development occurs within ones environment and social interactions. People are a product of their environment and will likely retain information and acquire similar ideas to those that are around them. Vygotsky had multiple ideas supporting his theory, such as cultural tools, psychological tools, language, scaffolding, and the zone of proximal development.
Nature versus nurture is an argument in psychology over whether a person’s innate qualities and behaviors are caused from their environment or if they’re born with it. Vygotsky places more emphasis on the social factors that contribute to cognitive development, in other words he is in favor of the nurture argument. He believes that everyone learns from their culture, environment, and social interactions. He talks about a few of his theories like the zone of proximal development, and a more knowledgeable other. He also expresses his thoughts on developmental tools and the importance of language to cognitive development. All of these factors together support his idea that children’s behavior is learned.
Russian psychologist, Lev Semionovich Vygotsky, had a powerful influence in the area of development. His work consisted of two main ideas: a) development depends on signs, b) development is measured based upon the outlook of a problem. "Intellectual development can be understood only in terms of the historical and cultural contexts of children experience." (Slavin, 2015) Two followers of Vygotsky, Margaret Gredler and Carol Shield, explained Vygotsky's theory more in depth in their article Does No One Read Vygotsky's Words? "[He]...defined the instrumental act as including (a) the problem to be solved, (b) one's
Vygotsky believed that learning and cognitive development were significantly influenced by social interactions that occur with in a particular sociocultural environment. There are four major influences on cognitive development.
Jean Piaget (1896-1980) was a psychologist who developed a theory that was completely unlike any other psychologists at that time. His idea, called Cognitive Development, stated that the actual chronological age of an adolescent is not as important as the age they experience things, or the experiential age. Cognitive is defined as “the ability to reason, make judgments, and learn” (Gorman & Anwar, 2014). Piaget goes on to describe the importance of coping with the ever-changing environment as an integral part of intelligence, and the next level of developmental stage cannot be obtained until one completes the current stage. Piaget’s Developmental Theory involves four stages: sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operations.
There are five ways in which Piaget’s theory of cognitive development and Vygotsky’s theory of the Zone of Proximal Development. The very first way that teachers can use these theories to teach constructively is by providing scaffolded instruction within the ZPD for their students (292). In other words, a teacher must be able to assist children in achieving a goal that may be slightly too difficult for them to reach alone. An example of this would be if a teacher had decided that her class should do an experiment on how well plants grow based on the amount of water they receive, she could challenge her students to make a hypothesis about what they think will happen. This teacher could allow her students to individually plant their seeds and then guiding her students to predict or hypothesize what they believe will happen if one plant gets more water than another. This example directly correlates with Vygotsky’s idea of ZPD because
I believe this as well, that children are constructive but are not experts at most skills and will therefore need some guidance from a caring adult. “The Zone of Proximal Development is the range of abilities that a person can perform with assistance, but cannot yet perform independently. Providing children with the appropriate assistance and tools gives them what they need to accomplish the new task or skill”. This is called scaffolding. “It’s important for people to realize that the zone of proximal development is a moving target”. Which means it is consistently changing as the child grows older. This is why I like to challenge children and present them with tasks that aren’t easily achieved on their own, but with some guidance and slight assistance, it is capable of accomplishment. Vygotsky believed that this would progressively advance the learning process as I too
“Once a child is born we begin helping them with tasks that are too difficult to master alone but that can be learned with guidance and assistance which is the (ZPD) zone of proximal development.”(Morrison, 2009 sec 14.6.1) this is the major concept of Lev Vygotsky theory. As our children grow we will interact with them throughout their lives. We may feel that a child should be at a certain stage in life; which would fit perfectly into Piagets theory that a child develops in stages. However we have always helped them with task; we sit back, observe the child trying the task, and when they c...
The base of Vygotsky's theory rests on the idea of internalization where development proceeds mainly from the absorption of information from a specified social environmental context. An example of a specific social environment is a school where children can learn from observing the interactions of others (e.g. teachers and peers) and through their own interactions within the environment (e.g. a specific problem “math problem”). A key concept is the zone of proximal development (ZPD) which Vygotsky states "is the distance between the actual development level as determined by independent problem solving and the level of potential development as determined through problem-solving under adult guidance or in collaboration with more capable peers." Cognitive growth is accomplished when a child is able to solve problems more independently through continued practice and mentoring. In this fashion, the development of the child is continuous as there is quantitative evidence of the growth being accomplished. The quantitative evidence can be as simple as child’s progression through a math problem where they build upon the ideas of addition and subtraction to multiplication and
It involves language, mental imagery, thinking, reasoning, problem solving, and memory development. Jean Piaget stages of cognitive development are the sensorimotor period (birth to 2 years). Children at the sensorimotor stage becomes more goal-directed oriented with goal moving from concrete to abstract (Driscoll et al., 2005). Children at the preoperational period (2-7), engage in symbolic play and games, but has a difficult time seeing another person’s point of view (Driscoll et al., 2005). For example, teaching a preoperational child can provide opportunities to play with clay, water, or sand. Children at the concrete operational period (7-11), solves concrete problems in a logical fashion (Driscoll et al., 2005). For example, providing materials such as mind twisters, brain teasers, and riddles. The formal operational period (11-adulthood) is when student’s solve abstract problems and develop concerns for social issues (Driscoll et al., 2005). For example, making sure that tests that’s given has essay questions and asks a student to come up with other ways to answer the
We must first look at the need for a constructivist approach in a classroom, to do this we think back to our days in primary school and indeed secondary school where textbooks we like bibles. We were told to take out our books, look at the board, and now complete the exercise on page z. This approach in a class is repetitive, the teacher holds authoritarian power and learning is by no means interactive. “In a traditional classroom, an invisible and imposing, at times, impenetrable, barrier between student and teacher exists through power and practice. In a constructivist classroom, by contrast, the teacher and the student share responsibility and decision making and demonstrate mutual respect.” (Wineburg, 2001) This approach focuses on basic skills and strict adherence to the curriculum. Children are being forced to learn through repetit...