What three concepts (or schema) did Piaget develop to explain how children organize their experiences into a “blueprint” for thinking? Give an example of each.
What will be an ideal response?
These three schema are (1) assimilation, (2) accommodation, and (3) equilibration. Assimilation occurs when a child integrates new experiences and information into existing schemas (i.e., what the child already knows). Examples will vary, but one would be that a child might call a squirrel a “puppy” because they are familiar with puppies and not squirrels. They are using what they know (i.e., puppies) to understand this new animal (i.e., squirrels). Accommodation involves modifying existing cognitive structures by changing thoughts and behaviors to fit new situations. For example, a child might initially call all four-legged animals “puppies” because that’s what they are familiar with. As they are introduced to new animals, they learn that not all four-legged animals are puppies, and thus learn to label the animals differently (e.g., squirrels, cats). Equilibration involves reaching a balance. Piaget believed that all three processes are required for knowledge formation and learning. Thus, a child who, when young and just learning, thought that all four-legged animals were puppies now has a larger understanding of animals and that not all four-legged animals are puppies. Through this process, they are able to adjust their understanding of new animals in new situations.
Learning Objective: 1-1: Describe the contributions of historical figures to the development of the field of general early childhood education.
You might also like to view...
Which of the following is not a characteristic of the ethological approach to assessment of intelligence?
a. Structured interview questions b. Observation of persons in their natural environments c. Identification of cognitive skills needed for adaptive problem solving d. Evaluation of adaptation to everyday activities
A book that takes place in the real world, but includes some magical elements that make the events impossible would be considered
a. high fantasy. b. low fantasy. c. science fiction. d. realistic fiction.
Which of the following strategies is an EXTENSION of a fine-motor plan in which children will trace leaf shapes with markers?
a. Children cut around the leaf shapes with scissors. b. Children name the leaves by type. c. Children read a story about leaves. d. Children go outside and gather leaves and other things that grow on trees.
In the debate over a national curriculum, which of the following issues represents the idea that the testing of a national curriculum could help policymakers when making decisions and allocating funds where they are needed most?
a. equity b. curriculum assessment c. child benefit d. community support of schools