William James

Module 4 Questions:

1.      Explain the principal contributions of Piaget’s cognitive constructivist theory?

Unlike behaviorism in which external factors (reinforcers) are influential on behaviors which inhibit free will, constructivism is the exact opposite. In the context of learning in the classroom, constructivism would encourage students to teach themselves and to make their own meaning of their educational experience with teachers there only for guidance. The overall theme for Piaget’s cognitive constructivist theory can be described as individuals actively learning and building upon existing cognitive structures through a process known as assimilation and accommodation.        

2.      Make a connection between Piaget’s stages of development and what James argued the teacher should know about cognitive development.

Ideas from Piaget’s cognitive constructivist theory closely resemble some concepts described by William James. In his talks with teachers, James often suggested that teachers should be there for students as an academic supporter who helps to guide students as they make sense of their learning experience. This concept is directly related to Piaget’s theory. Alongside that, James talked a lot about assimilation in that we learn by taking a form of information that we already know and build upon those ideas to form new constructs, which is also parallel to Piaget in that he describes assimilation and accommodation as a means for organizing information into ‘schemas’.     

3.      What would authors Airasian and Walsh have to say about the learning environment in which Bart was placed? Is this an example of constructivism? What are your own thoughts about constructivism as a theory of learning so far?

Airasian and Walsh might say that Bart Simpson was placed in a learning environment (new school) in which students construct their own knowledge in an academic setting. I believe that the structure of the new classroom was an example of constructivism as students seemed to teach themselves in the classroom while the teacher was there as a guide. When Bart first entered the school, the teacher told him that there is one rule for the school, which is to “make your own rules”; this is parallel to Piaget’s concept of students creating new knowledge structures (schemas) based on previously learned information.