Jean PiagetJean PiagetJean PiagetJean PiagetGreat Pioneer of ConstructivistGreat Pioneer of Constructivist

Theory of KnowingTheory of Knowing

Jean Piaget

• 1896 – 1980 • Study of molluscs to study of

child development. • 1934 “Only education is capable

of saving our societies from possible collapse.”

• Enormously influential in educational theory, especially in scheduling school curriculum.

Jean Piaget

• Development precedes learning• KEY INSIGHT: Experience

Role of maturation in children dictates their capacity to understand their world. Children cannot take on certain tasks until they are psychologically mature enough.

Jean Piaget

Assimilate new object into an old schema…

Rattle in mouth precedesDad’s car keys in mouth “grab & thrust”

Accommodate old schema to new object…

Beach ball in mouth..oops…Adjust schema to become “squeeze & drool”

ADAPTATION(Learning)

Assimilation Accommodation

Jean Piaget’sStages of Cognitive

Development• (0-2 Years) Sensorimotor-

Recognize self as agent of change. Reflexes. Shake rattle to get noise. Object permanence.

• (2-7 Years) Pre-Operational – Use of language and symbols. Egocentric viewpoint.

• (7-12 Years) Concrete Operational – Concrete logical operations. Conservation &

classification.

• (12 up) Formal Operational – Logical or abstract operations. Hypothetical thinking.

Jean PiagetVideos

• Conservation (2 min)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLj0IZFLKvg

• 4 stages (1 min)http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=LpYQH_T2FWM