Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development Flashcards
What did Piaget believe learning was?
Individual
What two key aspects of children’s learning did Piaget study?
- The role of motivation in development
- How knowledge develops
What is a schema?
A cognitive framework of beliefs and expectations that influence cognitive processing
How are schemes developed?
Through experience
How did Piaget define learning?
The altering and adjusting of schemas to adapt to a new situation
How many schemas did Piaget state babies are born with?
A small number that allow them to interact with the world around them
As children develop, what did Piaget state happens to their schemas?
They become more advanced, detailed and complex
What does Disequilibrium mean?
When our existing schemas don’t allow us to comprehend something new
What did Piaget argue Disequilibrium motivates children to do, and what does this result in?
Learn, which results in Equilibrium
What does Equilibrium mean?
When we explore and develop our understanding, and in turn our schemas, in order to escape Disequilibrium
What two key processes did Piaget identify in the Development of Knowledge?
- Assimilation
- Accommodation
What is Assimilation?
The updating of a schema- when new information about a specific subject is incorporated (assimilated) into our existing schema of it
What is Accommodation?
The development of a schema- when we acquire new information about a specific subject and have to form new schemas and/or radically alter our existing schemas in order to accommodate the new information
What application has Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development had?
Discovery learning in schools- students are encouraged to construct their own knowledge through exploration and inquiry
How has Piaget’s reliance on schemas been criticised?
Schemas are inferences, which means their influence and existence can’t be objectively studied or observed
