Learning Theory: Cognitive Development Theory, Strengths Of The Theory

Learning Theories
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Learning Theories
Learning process entails a permanent change in the ideas of the mind of an individual which happens involuntarily or voluntarily. Experiences that can facilitate change in knowledge of behaviors are key facilitators of the learning process. Behavioral learning theories assume the internal changes and emphasize on external changes that can be observed while the cognitive theories focus on the internal activities of the mind. The two theories acknowledge the fact that reinforcement is a critical element in learning. Cultural contexts theories, on the other hand, are based on the way people relate in institutions, cultures and historical contexts (Philip, 2009). The paper gives the analysis of these theories together with their assessment in a learning context.
Cognitive development theory
Jean Piaget came up with the theory in 1896-1980. It entailed four distinct phases in children which include: sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete and formal. The key concept of the theory came from Jean Piaget who was a psychologist together with a Swiss biologist who observed their children and the way they perceived the world. The theorists then initiated a four-phase model on the way the mind processes ideas. All children utilize this four-stage process and usually realized this in the same order. Sensorimotor phase ranges from the birth of a child to two years. Here, children develop the understanding of themselves and the reality, the way things work through association with the surroundings. The difference between the child and other objects is realized at this stage. Learning occurs through assimilation and accommodation in this stage. The next stage is the preoperational phase. The child starts to conceptualize ideas but requires more visible physical ideas. Through these features, the child is able to classify vital features of the objects. The third stage is the concrete operational stage which ranges between seven and eleven years. The accommodation level advances, the conceptualization level that builds logical structures that explain the child’s experience expand too. Then it is followed by the formal operational stage that ranges from 11 to 15 years. Here, the cognition capacity is in its final form. Physical features of an object are not necessary for judgments to be reached at but rather a deductive reasoning. The child is able to think about particular ideas in a similar level to an adult (Freud, 2010).
Strengths of the theory
The theory is regarded as one of the most successful ones since it changed the perspective of people on the children and the way to study them. The research has therefore influenced many theorists and researches. They employ this theory as a center of reference. Furthermore, the theory encourages comprehensive education which focuses on understanding children. It, therefore, has facilitated a better understanding of the way children learn. The theory explains the way children develop their understanding in phases. The phases enable the parents and teachers to have a wider view on the children’s development level hence, in an educational context, children will be able to learn and work at their own level ...