Jean Piaget
Vygotsky & Bruner
Vygotsky & Bruner
As we learned in the last unit of Cognitivism, in the late 1930's Piaget developed the four discrete stages of childhood learning development. His theory of Radical (cognitive) Constructionism illustrates how children's thinking evolves as they interact with their environment. Accommodation is how one's experience with the external world changes the way in which they must adapt to new information or experiences.
Assimilation is how one integrates new information into existing schemas, or pre-existing mental frameworks.
(McLeod, 2024)
Vygotsky & Bruner
Vygotsky & Bruner
Vygotsky & Bruner
Vygotsky's and Bruner's Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD), developed in the late 1920's represents the gap between what one can learn independently vs. learning with help. This is illustrated by scaffolding, as a temporary support provide for knowledge development to aid in completing tasks and the eventual reduction of this support to develop independence. This is essential in the constructivism framework for educators to provide appropriate and adequate support for learners so they can develop self-directed methods of learning.
(Pappas, 2023 May)
John Dewey
John Keller
John Keller
A contemporary of Piaget and Vygotsky, Dewey did not believe in repetitive lecturing and motivation, harmonizing their theories of cognitive and social learning.
He discussed the importance of independent reasoning while engaging in real world experiences to develop knowledge through both collaboration and innovation.
He believed in Continuity, that one's past experiences impact their future, and Interaction, how one's past influences their presence.
By reflecting on one's experiences, critical thinking and problem-solving skills are developed as well as an appreciation for many perspectives.
(Hermanto & Jayana, 2023)
John Keller
John Keller
John Keller
Developed nearly 50 years after the original constructivist theory originators in 1983, John Keller's ARCS Model of Motivation promotes and sustains motivation during the process of learning development:
1. Attention through perceptual arousal, active participation, variability, humor and other methods.
2. Relevance to increase motivation by relating learning with experience, worth, usefulness and matching.
3. Build Confidence to improve success by providing requirements, objectives, meaningful progress and feedback so the learner feels some degree of control.
4. Ensure Satisfaction so the experience is rewarding and that the knowledge learned is useful and beneficial.
(Pappas, 2023 November)