Reflective essay on theories of child development and learning.

by rashasaadeliteeducationegcom (student)

University Degree Education and Teaching

Student’s Name: Rasha Saad Zaki

Assignment (1): Reflective Essay (1)

Course Title: Child Development & Learning Theories

Course Code: CELE511

Due Date: Tuesday 28th of February, 2017

The study of different theories of child’s psychological development is crucial for any educator wishing to take part in an inspiring learning process for learners of any age. Educators should realize that such learning experience will touch the lives, the hearts, and the minds of the learners and will contribute to shaping their personalities and futures. Thus, a professional educator has to be familiar with the basic theories of cognitive, psychological, and sociocultural development, to be aware of the characteristics of each stage, and to use this knowledge to improve teaching techniques, consequently achieving a better learning environment.

“Jean Piaget”, one of the most influential psychologists of the twentieth century, developed a 4-stage model. He believed that all children pass through these phases to advance to the next level of cognitive development (Wood, Smith, & Grossniklaus, 2001). There are several teaching implications drawn from his theory applicable in classrooms. For instance, teachers need to understand that appropriate learning experiences build on children’s current level of cognitive functioning (Salvin, 1986). Thus, children between the age of 2-7, who have trouble understanding different viewpoints and are characterized by being egocentric, should be engaged in “peer work” activities so they learn to listen thoughtfully to other opinions and respect them. Teachers should take children’s opinions seriously and respect their ideas and suggestions.

Children are also encouraged to discover for themselves through spontaneous interaction with the environment. It’s thus necessary that teachers use a variety of appealing, hands-on activities. According to Sally Murphy, it’s also important to allow room for mistakes, as Piaget believed that children develop knowledge about the world through trial and error. Mistakes show that students are actively interacting with the world.

The last meaningful implication is that teachers must respect that children go through the same developmental sequence but at different rates, they should plan a variety of classroom activities that accommodate different learning styles.

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Erik Erikson, an influential psychoanalyst, introduced the theory of psychosocial development. Erikson’s theory is one of the most popular theories of human development. It is based on eight stages; from infancy till death. Three of which include school age children. The Pre-school stage is the age of building a hardy personality. Children at this age start to use surroundings for exploring, so teachers should allow them enough space for experimentation, and for trial and error. An example is using “realia”, or objects and activities relating lessons taught to real life. Teachers should provide feedback privately, and should refrain from criticizing openly. It’s also recommended to give children responsibilities and let them be in charge of the learning process. An example is “Classroom jobs Chart”.

The elementary stage is the age of competence and peer relationships. Children need to cope with social and academic demands, as well as accept each other. One successful technique is to discuss classroom rules with the children and include them in the process, so they learn about actions and consequences. Teachers should also encourage students to help each other through peer or group work, but to make sure that no one is being bullied. They could also role-play different situations to teach children moral lessons and help them think out of the box.

The middle and high-school stage is known for being a stressful stage and time of identity crisis. A teacher’s role is boosting students’ confidence. Different life skills should be taught, students must be ready to face the real world. They should also be exposed to different career choices through field trips and listening to inspirational guest speakers. Students should also be offered workshops providing them with sufficient knowledge relevant to their interests. Physical activities are also important to release stress and negative feelings.

Vygotsky’s theory of proximal development introduces concept of the zone of proximal development based on the idea that development is defined by what a child can do independently and what the child can do when assisted by an adult or more competent peer (Salvin, 1986). Thus, an efficient teaching technique is to blend students of different proximal levels into group work or pair work activities. Moreover, teachers may encourage students of more advanced skills to help their peers through presentations. They can also establish learning stations providing different activities suitable for varied levels of achievements.

The knowledge of the stages of psychological development of children is indispensable for any educator. It’s not only beneficial regarding lesson planning and teaching methodologies, but also the level of tolerance and understanding that this knowledge allows an educator to acquire.