Cognitive Development Of “Learning Theory”

Second Research Paper about “Learning Theory” Name Institution Second Research Paper about “Learning Theory” Learning is a continuous process that happens through a person`s life. From the time one is born until maturity, learning still goes on and usually influenced by different factors either intellectually, culturally, environmentally and even socially. Different theories have been used to explain how each of these factors affects the learner. In this regard cognitive development theory, Skinner`s theory of operant conditioning and social context theories will be explored. Cognitive Development Theory This theory is based on human intelligence, particularly its nature and how it develops. It also explores knowledge, its acquisition, construction and use. The theory came into play between the years 1896-1980 through its creator Jean Piaget, a developmental psychologist. He referred to this intellectual development in human beings as cognitive development. According to him, as people continue to mature biologically and interact with different experiences within their environments, this intellectual development continues to happen in a progressive manner (McLeod 2014). The thought process in people is constructed during the transition from childhood to adulthood in such a way that makes it easier to remember things, solve problems, and even make decisions. The theory further postulates that from the time of birth active learning begins in children using information from their immediate surroundings that is then gathered, sorted and processed. From this information, perceptions are developed together with the skills that enable one to think. The whole process has several parts to it, which include development of language, intelligence, processing of information, the ability to reason and memory. According to Piaget`s theory, schemas were the basis upon which the knowledge in a child was built, whereby new experiences were better understood by relying on the accumulated knowledge about the experiences of the past. The processes of assimilation and accommodation further aid this. Assimilation simply entails the process of how newly found information is perceived and adapted to by people. Usually, in an effort to make sense of the new information, the information learned in the past is used as a source of reference, which makes up the assimilation process. Accommodation on the other hand, works in the opposite manner whereby pre-existing knowledge, or schema is altered in such a way that it fits any new information humans come across. The two processes of assimilation and accommodation are not independent of each other and thus they are both needed to ensure that there is equilibrium in the cognitive development process in humans. Cognitive development has four stages to that describe how the thought process in humans develops from an early stage until later in life. The four are sensorimotor or infancy stage, pre-operational stage, concrete operational stage and the formal operational stage. The first stage of sensorimotor, takes place from the time a child is born until when they acquire language. During this stage, infants show their intelligence through physical interactions where they can hold, suck or step on objects an...