English Presentation

Crafting a Framework for Thought:

Jean Piaget and lev vygotsky on developmental education

Tyler ColeElizabeth ClarkENG 1020Metropolitan State CollegeFall 200910 November 2009

Jean Piaget (1896-1980)

Swiss Psychologist of Cognitive Development

Published first paper at age 10

PhD in Natural Science

Developed theory of Cognitive Development

Age Appropriate Learning in Stages

Lev Vygotsky (1896-1934)

Russian Psychologist of Cognitive Development

Conducted Research during Soviet Era

Wrote six major volumes in 10 years

Developed Theory of Cognitive Development

Emphasized Societal Impacts on Development

Where They Differ:

Piaget VygotskyNature Focused

Quantitative

Determined by Stages

Student Led

Intrinsic Motivation

Nurture Focused

Qualitative

Learner Determined

Instructor Guided

Societal Influence

So who’s right?

THESIS

“I have drawn a quite clear general skeleton, but one still full of gaps…in filling them in one will be led to differentiate its connections…without at the same time altering the main lines of the system” (Piaget qtd. in Bringuier 144).

Lev Vygotsky’s theory of developmental education provides a more versatile foundation to be used in schools today due to its innovative concepts of the zone of proximal development, Vygotskian play throughout development, and societal impacts on growth.

Looking at the Zone of Proximal Development

Basic Concept: Guided Instruction

Independent Performance vs Assisted Performance

Assigned Roles Brings Order

Teacher as the diagnostician

Scaffolding through guidance

Doesn’t the ZPD take away from Children’s Discoveries?

The Zone of Proximal Development:

Fosters Critical Thinking

Is more Pragmatic

Is a good gauge of development

Teaches reciprocal teaching

Actively Builds on Knowledge

Works Cited Bringuier, Jean-Claude. Conversations

with Jean Piaget. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1980. 15-143. Print.

Daniels, Harry. Vygotsky and Pedagogy. New York: Routledge, 2001. 5-68. Print.

Newman, Fred, and Lois Holzman. Lev Vygotsky: Revolutionary Scientist. New York: Routledge, 1993. 32-86. Print.

"Overview ." ED.gov U.S. Department of Education, 1 July 2009. Web. 4 Nov. 2009<http://www.ed.gov/about/landing.jhtml>.

Continued Papert, Seymour . "Jean Piaget." The

Time 100 Conversations with Jean Piaget. Time, 2009. Web. 4 Nov. 2009 <http://www.time.com/time/time100/scientist/profile/piaget.html>.

Typhon, Anastasia, and Jacques Voneche. Piaget - Vygotsky: The Social Genesis of Thought. London: Psychology Press, 1996. 174-86. Print.

Waite-Stupiansky, Sandra. Building Understanding Together. Boston: Delmar Publishers, 1997. 24-26. Print.