The fundamental basis of learning was discovery. It is believed that each person builds on the previous stage of cognitive development, increasing the child’s ability to solve more complex problems. Jean Piaget (1896 – 1980), a Swiss psychologist, developed four main cognitive structures which are patterns of physical or mental action that underlie specific acts of intelligence and correspond to the child’s development. They include Sensory-motor (0-2 Years), Preoperational (3-7 years), Concrete operational (8-11 years) and Formal Operational (12-15 years).
These developmental stages change through the processes of adaptation, accommodation and assimilation. Assimilation involves interpretation of events in terms of existing cognitive structures where as accommodation refers to changing the cognitive structure to make sense of the environment.
The stages of human development are very important to understand because problems that result from a teacher’s lack of understanding may be prevented. Here is I would like to discuss a key problem which results from a teacher’s attitude at the time when a child is beginning to analyze what are his abilities, his set backs etc. The stage under discussion is childhood; 8 – 12 years.
How a person views and values herself can have a significant impact on almost everything she does-the way she relates to others, the way she approaches activities, the way she copes with adversity. This also has a marked effect on her academic performance, notably her motivation to learn, her ability to focus and her willingness to take risks. Thus, healthy self-esteem provides a firm foundation for learning.
Self-esteem is one of the key building blocks of school success. Also referred to as self-worth, self-esteem is not a measure of a person’s capabilities, but rather her evaluation of those capabilities. It reflects her feelings of being accepted and valued by others, her perception of how she measures up.........
