Module 7- Post 1

Do the majority of teachers prefer using Vygotsky’s or Piaget’s theory more in the classroom?

This chapter focused mainly on cognitive development and its relation to learning and constructivism. Piaget and Vygotsky’s theories of constructivism were discussed. Piaget believed that knowledge develops from an interaction of nature and nurture. He focuses more on the actual individual. In his theory he developed four stages of development: sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational. Learning is always happening throughout. The children’s cognitive process comes from their maturation, environment, equilibration, and social experiences. Vygotsky focused on social constructivism . Vygotsky focused more on social interactions rather that the child.  He also did the Zone of Proximal Development, which shows what children can do with and without the getting help from someone else. Students are at different stages at different times. They are not all in one stage at the same time, it depends on the person. Development comes before learning. A person has to be developed enough in order to understand how things work or why. Development is the phase that a child has to go through, according to Piaget. These are sensorimotor, pre operational, concrete operational and formal operational. Learning happens throughout these phases. Learning happens when they are processing their environment in order to learn, or gain knowledge. Critical thinking would not push development because in order to learn you need to have developed. I would most likely apply Piaget’s theory.  When  children are getting help from someone older, like an older sibling, they are more likely to listen and want to learn. Piaget says that we need to know what stage a child is in before we can teach them in the ways they need to be taught.