Module 7 Post 1

Module 7 has to do with the theory of constructivism. Constructivism is said to be either an individual process or a social process, respectively known as individual constructivism or social constructivism. Piaget was primarly concerned with individual constructivism in how individuals built knowledge for themselves while Vygotsky was focused on the social constructivism and how culture brings about cognitive changes. Piaget believes that knowledge evolves in phases; sensorimotor, pre-operational, concrete operational and formal operational. Children explore using their senses and motor skills, then time propels them onto the pre-operational phase where they are more egocentric and focus on certain aspects of certain things, i.e. color of objects rather than shape. From pre-operational, they are pushed on to concrete operational where logic holds a bigger place in their minds. Now they're able to think in two-way streets, rather than just focus on themselves and what they are thinking. They can represent other people's minds. In formal operations, we can now solve many problems everyday life presents us. Vygotsky presented the Zone of Proximal Development which compares what children can do without the help of others and what they are capable of doing with guidance. Teachers need to be aware that students reach different stages of knowledge at different times and should be cautious when teaching.

Development and learning differ from phase to phase. Development is the phases Piaget says a child goes through: sensorimotor, pre-operational, concrete operational, and formal operational. The only thing propelling children through these stages are time and their biological maturation. Learning takes place within these phases. Everything they are experiencing within their certain developmental phases. Learning is using and processing the environment around them to construct new knowledge.

Critical thinking cannot push development, according to Piaget. The only thing that can bring about development is biological maturation through time.