Education Theorists: Piaget, Skinner, Durkheim

Jean Piaget9-Aug-1896 – 17-Sep-1980

Bio

Born in Geneva, SwitzerlandSwiss Biologist, Philosopher, Psychologist60 Books & several hundred articlesMarried with Valentine ChatenayDirector of Studies at the J-J Rousseau Institute (Geneva)Ph.D in Zooology from University of Neuchâtel in 1918

Popular theories: Theory of Cognitive DevelopmentGenetic Epistemology

http://www.piaget.org/aboutPiaget.html

http://psychology.about.com/od/profilesofmajorthinkers/p/piaget.htm

Key Theories

• Piaget’s Cognitive Development Theory

Popular Quotes

The principle goal of education in the schools should be

creating men and women who are capable of doing new

things, not simply repeating what other generations have

done. -Jean Piaget

We learn the best when we make a connection between what we already know

and the new material to be learned -

Activity

• Write in a chat box how a children of ages 2 & 7 classify a car as an object?

• Write how 7 – 11 classify a car as an object?

• Write how above 11 classify a car as an object?

ÉMILE DURKHEIM

1858-1917

Bio

• The Division of Labor in Society (1893)

• Rules of the Sociological Method (1895)

• L'Année Sociologique (1898)

• Suicide (1897)

• The Elementary Forms of Religious Life (1912)

Key Theories

"For if society lacks the unity that derives from the fact that the relationships between its parts are exactly regulated, that unity resulting from the harmonious articulation of its various functions assured by effective discipline and if, in addition, society lacks the unity based upon the commitment of men's wills to a common objective, then it is no more than a pile of sand that the least jolt or the slightest puff will suffice to scatter."

—Émile Durkheim

Popular Quotes

"Sociology is, then, not an auxiliary of any other science; it is itself a distinct and autonomous science."

—Émile Durkheim

"There is in every society a certain group of phenomena which may be differentiated from those studied by the other natural sciences."

—Émile Durkheim

How would you apply sociology

in Vocational education

If social structures exert a strong influence on social action how does this affect learning?

B.F Skinner1904 - 1990

Bio

• American psychologist, behaviorist, author, inventor, and social philosopher.

• He was the Edgar Pierce Professor of Psychology at Harvard University from 1958 until his retirement in 1974.

• Skinner is considered the father of Operant Conditioning

• He lived in a time when Psychology was focusing on emotional narrative and not an experimental science

Key Theories

• Radical Behaviorism – Operant Conditioning

• Big Bang Theory and Operant Conditioning

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qy_mIEnnlF4

Operant Conditioning Explained

Further

Popular Quotes

(2) to encourage students to display an interest in instruction.

education has two major purposes: (1) to teach repertoires of both verbal and nonverbal behavior; and

Skinner in Voc. edu

• Reinforce positive behaviour that would lead to learning

• How?

• Grading as Assessment

• Applying pedagogical approaches that re-inforce positive outcomes

• - Action & Project based learning – Active learners, students see the results of their work, feel proud of their result.

• Any other examples???

References• Piaget

• http://www.piaget.org/aboutPiaget.html

• http://psychology.about.com/od/profilesofmajorthinkers/p/piaget.htm

• Durkheim

• http://durkheim.uchicago.edu/

• http://www.bolenderinitiatives.com/sociology/emile-durkheim-1858-1917

• Skinner

• www.bfskinner.org

• http://psychology.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=psychology&cdn=education&tm=18&f=00&su=p284.13.342.ip_&tt=11&bt=1&bts=1&zu=http%3A//psychclassics.yorku.ca/Skinner/Theories/

• Harvard Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIEt6TrjJXw