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Running head: PIAGETS THEORY OF COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT

Jason Burton
Article Review
EDUC 224: Intro to Scientific Inquiry
Piagets Theory of Cognitive Development

Piagets Theory of Cognitive Development

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Running head: PIAGETS THEORY OF COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT
The article in review is an article found at simplypsychology.org. This article
reviews the ideas and principles of Jean Piaget. Jean Piaget was a French
psychologist that made a systematic study of cognitive development. His
contributions include a theory of cognitive child development, detailed
observational studies of cognition in children, and a series of simple but ingenious
tests to reveal different cognitive abilities.
Jean Piaget worked as a French psychologist focusing on developing French
versions of questions on English test. Piaget became fascinated by the reasons that
children struggled to give answers and why they children gave wrong answers on
the questions that required logical thinking. Piaget believed that childrens
wrongdoing revealed important differences between the thought process of adults
and children.
In 1936, Piaget became the first psychologist to make a systematic study of
cognitive development. Through his study Piaget developed a theory based on three
major components; Schemas, adaptation, and stages of development.
Schemas were described as the building blocks of knowledge and/or
intelligence by Piaget. Piaget emphasized the importance of schemas in cognitive
development, as well as went into detail to as they were developed or acquired.
Through the idea of schemas, Piaget hypothesized that a person had a particular
way of processing information together and applying mental representations to that
idea.
Adaptation, which Piaget described as adjustments made to accommodate
changes in the world, was used a reference for intellectual growth. This process
enabled children to transition from one stage of development to another. Adaptation

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Running head: PIAGETS THEORY OF COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT
happened through the processes of assimilation, accommodation and equilibrium.
Assimilation is using an existing schema to deal with a new object or situation.
Equilibrium is the force which moves development along. Piaget believed that
cognitive development did not progress at a steady rate, but rather in leaps and
bounds. Equilibrium occurs when a child's schemas can deal with most new
information through assimilation. Accommodation happens when the existing
schema (knowledge) does not work, and needs to be changed to deal with a new
object or situation.
The stages of development are split into four stages; Sensorimotor,
Preoperational, Concrete Operational, and Formal Operational. These stages are
broken up into age groups; Sensorimotor (0-2 years), Preoperational (2-7 years),
Concrete Operational (7-11 years) and Formal Operational (11 years old and
continues throughout life).
Piagets theory can be used in many various ways in the classroom. The
examples that were left by this theory can help shape teachers lessons into positive
enforcing lessons. Through Piagets theory, classroom activities can be created and
illustrated in all classroom settings.
An activity that could be conducted in the classroom to illustrate Piagets
theory would be to have students engage in hands on role playing activities. This
could be done effectively in a history style of setting by grouping students into
various ethnic groups. Students would be required to conduct themselves as their
assigned role would in their natural setting. This allows students to research into a
given subject while also seeing things from another perspective.

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Running head: PIAGETS THEORY OF COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT
Another activity that could be conducted in the lower elementary
classes would be hands on mathematical stations. This would allow students to
learn through simulation and gather a better understanding of the desired concept.
Activities that involve role playing can be huge in cognitive development.
Reference Page
McLeod, S. A. (2009). Jean Piaget. Retrieved from
http://www.simplypsychology.org/piaget.html