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Child and Adolescent Development:Cognitive development
Week 2-1
Overview:
Basic theoretical issues Cognitive-Developmental theory (Piaget) Sociocultural theory (Vygotsky)
1.Basic theoretical issues
Definition of development– Certain changes that occur in human beings
between conception and death– Temporary change caused by a brief ill or drugs is
not considered part of development– Can be divided into many different aspects,including
physical development,personal development,social development, and cognitive development.
General principles of development
People develop at different rates Development is relatively orderly Development takes place gradually Development is affected by both heredity and
environment
2.Piaget’s Cognitive Theory
Born in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, on August 9, 1896.
In 1918, received his Doctorate in Science from the University of Neuchâtel.
In 1952, he became a professor at the Sorbonne
Background of Cognitive Theory
Student of biology and zoology Learned that survival requires adaptation Any individual organism, as well as an entire species,
must adapt to constant changes in the environment Viewed development of human cognition/intelligence
as the continual struggle of a very complex organism to adapt to complex environment
Piaget’s Cognitive Theory:
Human development described in terms of functions and structures
Functions: inborn biological mechanisms that are the same for everyone, remain unchanged during lifetime; help construct internal cognitive structures
Structures: change repeatedly during development Schemes = cognitive structures
Schemes
Fundamental aspect of theory Not something that a child has, is what a child does Relationships between two elements, an object in the
environment and the child’s reaction to the object E.g., Ball - can push it, throw it, mouth it Psychological structure, reflects child’s underlying
knowledge that guides interactions with the world.
Schemes
It is the nature and organization of schemes that define a child’s intelligence at a given time.
Schemes are flexible, typically have a broad scope, change over time
Example
3.5 years child reading the map of China Shandong to Shanghai Shandong to Beijing How will we go from shanghai to beijing to call
on someone? Conclusion: The child merges two schemes int
o a unit
Functions
Two major functions: 1) Organization: Cognitive structures are
related and fitted into the existing system.– Involves integration, not just adding on.
2) Adaptation: Tendency of the child to fit with its environment in ways that promote survival. (Sub-processes are assimilation and accommodation.)
Piaget’s Cognitive Theory: Constructivism
Children’s knowledge of events in the environment are not an exact reproduction of those events. Not like a photograph.
Children shape what they learn from their environments and shape it to fit with existing schemes.
Stages (periods) of development
Sensorimotor (0-24 months) Preoperational period (Ages 2 to 6 years) Concrete operational period (6 - 11 years) Formal operations period (11 years - adulth
ood)
Sensorimotor stage (0 to 24 months):
Six substages Reflexes graduate to more flexible action patter
ns Show increasing levels of intentional and goal
directed behavior Begin to understand object permanence Mental representation develops Deferred imitation, make-believe play
Preoperational stage (24 months to 7 years)
Make-believe play becomes more complex, evolves to socio-dramatic play
Dual representation develops (realize that photos represent things in the world)
Helps preschoolers understand others’ perspectives Still quite egocentric Animistic thinking Conservation and hierarchical classification still
difficult
Teaching preoperational child
Use concrete and visual aids Short instruction with actions and words Pay attention to the inconsistent perspectives More hands-on practice When learning concepts and language,provide
a wide range of experiences
Concrete Operational stage (7 to 11 years)
Thought becomes more logical and organized Conservation develops: Shows that kids can d
e-centre and reverse their thinking Seriation and inference develops Cognitive maps develop Cultural practices and education have a profou
nd effect at this stage
Teaching the concrete-operational students
Use concrete props and visual aids Give students chances to manipulate and test objects Presentation and readings should be brief and well-
organized Use familiar examples to explain complex ideals Give opportunities to classify and group objects and
ideals on increasingly complex levels Present questions the need logical,analytical thinking
Formal Operational stage (11 years +):
Abstract thinking appears Deductive reasoning emerges Even many university students only think in
abstract ways on topics with which they have extensive experience.
Teaching formal operational students
Continue to use concrete-operational teaching strategies and materials
Give students the opportunity to explore many hypothetical questions
Give students opportunities to solve problems and reason scientifically
If possible, teach broad concepts, not just facts,using materials relevant to the real life
Educational implications
Children is not “small adults” Understanding students’ thinking Teaching based on the developmental levels of
students’ thinking Learning is a constructive process
Limitations of Piaget’s Theory
The trouble with stages(lack of consistency in children’s thinking)
Underestimating children’s abilities Children’s trouble with Piagetian tasks can be explaine
d by information processing theory
(neo-Piagetian theories ) Can’t explain youth’s thinking(post-formal operation) Overlooking the effects of culture and social group
3.Vygotsky’s Sociocultural theory
Born on November 5, 1896 in Byelorussia (Soviet Union)
He was first educated as lawyer and a philologist
He began his career as a psychologist in1917 and only pursued this career for 17 years before his death from tuberculosis in 1934.
Basic viewpoints
Emphasized the way that values, beliefs, customs, and skills of a culture/social group influence children
Focused on dialogues between children and more experienced members of society
Language leads to self-talk and the development of cognition, and later metacognition
(errors in text p44)
Vygotsky’s theories
Cultural tools theory Private/self speech theory Theory of zone of proximal development
Cultural tools theory
Social interaction is the origin of individual thinking
Cultural tools,including real tools and symbolic tools play very important roles in cognitive development
Higher-order metal processes are mediated by psychological tools
Private speech theory
Children speak to themselves for self-guidance Start doing this openly, then to self (you may
see their lips move) Language forms the foundation for all higher
cognitive processes Children with learning difficulties show more
private speech over a longer period
Private speech and self-regulation
First, behavior is regulated by others Next, using the same language to regulated
others’ behavior Third , using private speech to regulate ones
own behavior Finally, regulated his/her behavior by silent
inner speech
Theory of zone of proximal development
A: The area where child can solve a problem alone
B: Problems beyond the children’s capabilities C: Zone of proximal development: the area
where the child can’t solve a problem alone,but can be successful under adult guidance or in collaboration with a more advanced peer
Instruction should be given in the ZPD
Implications of Vygotsgy’s theory for teachers
Assisted learning– Scaffolding– From heteronomous to autonomous
The zone of proximal development– Assessment of learning potential– Guide students by explanations,demonstrations,and
with other students
Differences between Piaget and Vygotsky’s theories
Piaget Vygotsky
Background
Course of Development
Agents of Development
Implications
Pause and Discussion
What makes the differences between Piaget’s and Vygotsky’s theories?
Application and Generation
Analyse the reasons why your English study are relatively ineffective.
Design a suitable project for enhancing your English performance.
The End