Four interrelated factors drive progression between developmental stages: maturation, experience, social interaction, and equilibration¶

Theory · All theories
Evidence · no claims cited

Description¶

The handbook identifies the mechanism Piaget proposes for moving from one stage to the next. As printed, "According to Riaget, there arefour interrelated factorswhich together help -a child move from one stalje,to the next": maturation (physical and physiological growth), experience (sensori-motor input from acting on real or concrete objects), social interaction (playing, talking, questioning and working with others, especially other children), and equilibration, the process of bringing the other three together to build mental structures. The handbook uses this framework to justify providing rich hands-on and social experiences rather than accelerating instruction.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Learning environments must supply concrete objects to act on, opportunities for social interaction with peers, and experiences that produce cognitive conflict (disequilibration)

Constraints¶

• The handbook states Piaget's theory does not offer ideas for accelerating children's cognitive development and does not suggest acceleration is beneficial

Target Learners¶

• preschool through third grade children

Target Learning Objectives¶

• cognitive development and construction of mental structures through active experience

Claims¶

Related Theories¶

• Stages of Cognitive Development
• Piaget's stage theory of cognitive development: four fixed, hierarchical stages from sensori-motor to formal operations
• Sociocultural Theory
• Three-stage model of developing district computational thinking pathways: Getting Started, Getting Going, Getting Better
• Strauss's dual disequilibrium framework extended with a Bias directionality indicator

Examples¶

• Use questioning and counter-suggestions (contrepreuve) to produce disequilibration and support cognitive growth

Key Sources¶

• Felton, Victoria; Petersen, Rosemary. (1976). Piaget: A Handbook for Parents and Teachers of Children in the Age of Discovery--Preschool Through Third Grade. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED131912