How can Piaget's and Vygotsky's theories be applied to the classroom?

Readiness is also another key aspect to Piaget’s theory; Piaget believed that children develop in stages and should be taught according to what stage they are at for example children in the concrete stage need to be given concrete examples to carry out tasks for example when a child is doing an abstract task such as addition or subtraction with money they may need to use plastic coins or blocks to help them do the task.  In doing this there needs to be a balance between accommodation and assimilation.

Vygotsky’s theory can also be applied equally as Piagets theory can.  Unlike Piaget Vygotsky believed that the teacher plays a key role in the teaching of a child through interaction and instruction.  The teacher needs to be more knowledgeable that the pupil (expert and non-expert roles), the teacher also needs to provide guidance, direction, support and structure.  This can be done by the teacher acting as a ‘scaffold’ for the child, this is done by simplifying tasks and directing the child in what they are doing, also errors should be highlighted and dealt with and demonstrations should be given.  An example of this could be a teacher showing a pupil how to draw a portrait of somebody and give them demonstrations and examples and then the child will then have to go and do one for themselves, whilst this is being done the teacher can be helping individuals to improve their drawings.

Unlike Piaget, Vygotsky’s the theory was student centred, the believed that children can learn off one another and act as scaffolds too, and from his theory we can assume that children should work better with social interaction, a classroom example of this is doing posters in groups to revise and reiterate work that has already been done.