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Jean Piaget

1896- 1980

Jean Will Fritz Piaget was born in Neuchatel Switzerland on 9^th August 1896 and died on 16^th September 1980. He was a French speaking Swiss philosopher and a developmental psychologist who was famous for his studies on children on the field of epistemology. Piaget came up with theories on cognitive development and epistemologies are collectively known as genetic epistemology. Jean’s father: Arthur Piaget was a professor in medieval literature and very interested in history. Piget’s mother; Rebecca Jackson was a smart woman who Jean later described as being too compulsive which Jean found interesting and made him interested in learning psychology (Beilin, 1994)..

Jean was the first born of Arthur and Rebecca which made him develop an independent nature early on in life.  Jean Piaget showed promise of being a great scholar form the time he was age 10 by writing a paper on the natural world. Jean showed interest in different fields of learning from nature to psychology and philosophy. Jean Piaget schooled at the University of Neuchatel and studied up to doctorate level where he got a PhD in natural science. Jean Piaget also did some research at the University of Zurich in Switzerland which was a predominantly German speaking area. It is while studying at the University of Zurich that Jean Piaget developed an interest in psychoanalysis and his studies deviated form a major focus in natural sciences to the human mind and its psychological state. Jean Piaget reasoned that what happens during the early development of children as they develop affects their intelligence development later on in life. His theories on cognitive development were also influenced by the debates that were taking place at the time on childhood development (Beilin, 1994).

Jean Piaget’s contributions to education rose from his interest in the process of thinking and seeing that the area had not been previously researched on, he saw an opportunity to focus his research on the area. Jean called his study genetic epistemology which basically meant the knowledge development. Jean Piaget concluded that there are four stages to development during childhood; the first year after children are born constitutes sensory-motor awareness. At this stage, substances are real for the kids and they can fully explore their senses. The next stage after the first years of the children are from around two years old to seven whereby they learn to crawl and eventually walk. Children make use of their limbs at this stage. The next stage of development is from age’s seven to twelve whereby children begin to think logically about things around them (Kitchner, 1996). This is the stage where most children begin to understand the simple things that they learn in school. The next stage of development is the operational stage whereby the children begin to process abstract reasoning. Jean Piaget’s contributions to education led to a better understanding of the cognitive development and thought process growth in humans. Jean Piaget’s work has been used to help children with language development and processing problems by determining which process of development a child is at and helping him or her advance. Jean’s discovery came about from observing the growth and development of his own three children.

Jean Piaget started developing his theories while working with Alfred Binet. At the time, Binet was the administrator at an all boys’ school and he was trying to finish on his Binet Intelligence Test. From Binet’s research, Piaget observed that all the boys were giving the same wrong questions that they had been asked. These inspired Piaget to research and understand why people and especially children and adolescents think differently as they do.

 The implication of Jean Piget’s learning theory in the classroom is that now teachers can understand the stages that children go through as they try to learn new things in the classroom. Nowadays teachers can understand their learners and help them with any learning difficulties that they might have. This stages can be used by teachers at all levels in understanding their students and helping them cope incase they have any learning or language difficulties.

Piaget believed that children should be taught in a way that enables them to process and understand what they have been taught. Learning aids should be used as much as possible and practical examples given (Smith, 1992).

In his theories, Piaget expounded that children should be given enough time to process what they have been taught in class by being given hands on assignments to enhance their understanding. Designing of class and lesson plans should also made in a design and manner that students can grasp the concept that a teacher is trying to impart into them. The teacher should use repetition where possible so that the students can jog their memories. Students understand very well when a certain concept is taught more than once. This theory has enabled learners of education and psychology to better grasp cognitive development in humans and thereby deliver knowledge more effectively. The theory of cognitive development has led to the development of better classroom interaction and better understanding for students.

References

Beilin, H. (1994). Jean Piaget’s enduring Contribution to development psychology. A Century of developmental psychology. Washington D.C.

Kitchner, R. (1986). Piaget’s Theory of Knowledge: Genetic Epistemology and Scientific Reason. Yale University.

Smith, L. (1992). Jean Piaget: Critical Assessments. London. Routledge.