Learning Log #2

What? In this chapter we learned about Cognitive and Linguistic Development, which was very interesting and dealt a lot with language and the development and understanding within cognitive aspect. We became familiar with the neuron, and it's different parts and how they all worked together to transfer information to other cells. It was also very interesting to learn about Piaget's and his theory. Piaget's assumptions consisted of children are active and motivated learners, children construct knowledge from their experiences (constructivism), children learn through he two complementary processes of assimilation and accommodation, interactions with one's physical and social environments are essential for cognitive development, the process of equilibration promotes progression toward increasingly complex thought, and maturational changes in the brain, children think in qualitatively different ways at different ages. Piaget also has his stages of cognitive development, so it's interesting to try to figure out which stage our student are in. There is the sensorimotor stage, preoperational stage, concrete operations stage, and formal operations stage. All these stages together make up the theory of Piaget and the cognitive development people go through. In this chapter we also focused on the theory of Vygotsky, which did a lot of scaffolding and the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) which is the range of tasks that a learner can perform with the help and guidance of others but cannot yet perform independently. Vygotsky's assumptions were through both informal and formal conversations, adults convey to children the ways in which their culture interprets and responds to the world, every culture passes along physical and cognitive tools that make daily living more productive and efficient, thought and language become increasingly interdependent in the first few years of life, complex mental processes begin as social activities; as children develop, they gradually internalize processes they use in social contexts and begin to use them independently, children can perform more challenging tasks when they have assistance, play allows children to stretch themselves cognitively. So What? This information is important because Piaget and Vygotsky play a big part in cognitive development, that we as teachers need to be aware of. It can be very effective for our teaching and also for our students learning ability. It can help us better understand our students, and realize their stage of development. It is also important for us as teachers to be aware of linguistics and be an example for our students in helping our students speak correctly. It is good to know and always remember there is a great deal of diversity among children when cognitive and linguistic development is involved, but it's important to create help and accommodate those in need. Now What? As a teacher I will use this information and apply these different theories by Piaget and Vygotsky to my students to help them with their cognitive development and linguistic development. It helped me to be aware and to also remember to consistently promote good linguistic skills, by being a good example and always show the proper way of speaking and having conversations, especially when speaking to them personally. I will also allow my students to talk amoungst each ohter, critique them in the correct way to also help them through out the year have a better understanding. As a teacher I will also always take into consideration the different ways all the students need to develop and grow, it effects their learning and it's up to me to be patient and know who to teach each and every student individually. This chapter has also helped me to understand that each and every student and each and every class will have different kinds of learnes, and different development stages, which is something I must be prepared for and always take into consideration.