This topic contains a solution. Click here to go to the answer

Author Question: Current thinking among developmental psychologists and educators is that children in the middle ... (Read 61 times)

ishan

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 546
Current thinking among developmental psychologists and educators is that children in the middle school grades face intense psychological demands due to major physical, social, emotional, and cognitive changes, and that these changes call for a particular type of school environment. Describe the changes that middle school students typically experience and the type of educational environment that would best meet their needs.
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Relate Piaget's and Vygotsky's developmental theories to the concepts of cognitive constructivism and social constructivism in meaningful learning experiences.
 
  What will be an ideal response?



Related Topics

Need homework help now?

Ask unlimited questions for free

Ask a Question
Marked as best answer by a Subject Expert

hugthug12

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 329
Answer to Question 1

Middle school students are in early adolescence and are undergoing major physical changes related to puberty, social changes related to the desire to conform to the norms of a peer group, emotional changes related to the hormonal changes of puberty and the continued influence of egocentric thought, and cognitive changes related to the refinement of concrete operational schemes and the beginnings of formal operational schemes.
Because early adolescence is characterized by an increased need for autonomy, an acute self-consciousness, the developing awareness of others' feelings and the importance of peer acceptance, concerns about self-image, and the capacity for abstract thought, school environments should stress the following characteristics: students should be allowed to make decisions about such things as classroom rules, where they sit, and time spent on various tasks. Teachers should strive to establish a friendly, supportive, and caring relationship with students; stress small-group and individualized instruction and deemphasize whole-class instruction and ability grouping; use predetermined standards for grades rather than grading on a curve; and emphasize discussion and group problem-solving activities rather than copying information from textbooks or filling out worksheets.

Answer to Question 2

Jean Piaget's developmental theory, discussed in Chapter 2, holds that learning is the natural result of an intrinsic drive to resolve inconsistencies and contradictions encountered by the individual interacting in the environment. Cognitive constructivism focuses on the role of cognitive processes that take place within the individual during meaningful learning. Cognitive constructivism is an outgrowth of Piaget's developmental theory because it focuses on the cognitive processes that take place within individuals.
Lev Vygotsky's theory of development, also discussed in Chapter 2, focuses on the role of social interaction and cultural norms in the learning process. Social constructivism focuses on the role of culture and social interaction in the process of meaningful learning. According to this view, meaningful learning occurs when people are explicitly taught how to use the psychological tools of their culture and are then given the chance to use these tools to foster individual and/or shared understanding. Proponents of this approach to learning maintain the importance of giving students opportunities to engage in open-ended discussions with peers and teachers about the meaning of terms and procedures, the relationships among ideas, and the applicability of knowledge to specific contexts. This process, referred to as negotiating meaning, has its roots in Vygotsky's theory of development.




ishan

  • Member
  • Posts: 546
Reply 2 on: Jun 20, 2018
Gracias!


Hdosisshsbshs

  • Member
  • Posts: 315
Reply 3 on: Yesterday
:D TYSM

 

Did you know?

As the western states of America were settled, pioneers often had to drink rancid water from ponds and other sources. This often resulted in chronic diarrhea, causing many cases of dehydration and death that could have been avoided if clean water had been available.

Did you know?

The average older adult in the United States takes five prescription drugs per day. Half of these drugs contain a sedative. Alcohol should therefore be avoided by most senior citizens because of the dangerous interactions between alcohol and sedatives.

Did you know?

Certain rare plants containing cyanide include apricot pits and a type of potato called cassava. Fortunately, only chronic or massive ingestion of any of these plants can lead to serious poisoning.

Did you know?

Drugs are in development that may cure asthma and hay fever once and for all. They target leukotrienes, which are known to cause tightening of the air passages in the lungs and increase mucus productions in nasal passages.

Did you know?

Despite claims by manufacturers, the supplement known as Ginkgo biloba was shown in a study of more than 3,000 participants to be ineffective in reducing development of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease in older people.

For a complete list of videos, visit our video library