Chapter 3 Reflection

This chapter described a lot of useful techniques and information I can use for when I start teaching. Using all the stages in this process will really help children in learning science. Teachers who use this as a teaching technique will help their students consider multiple parts of a situation and form complete combinations. I want to reflect on Piaget’s theory of cognitive development. First of all, I want to say I agree with his theory and think that children do learn through a process. This process is an excellent way to teach children science. It helps them recall previous knowledge they have learned and organize it as well. In the first stage, which is the preoperational stage, Piaget states that children tend to focus on one main view of a situation. One example of Piaget’s theory, a child of this age may value a nickel worth 5 cents over a dime worth 10 cents because the nickel is bigger, even if an adult lets the child know that the dime is more valuable. Another example is, a child who sees two identical size cups filled with water will say that the cups have the same amount of water in them. But, when one cup gets switch with a taller cup, but still has the same amount of water, the child will say the taller cup has more water only because it seems like that to the child. Since one cup is taller, it may look like it has more when it really has the same amount. The appearance of the objects gives the wrong impression about them. Children’s decisions are dominated by their perceptions. With this process we can help children use this for the future learning. It is important that children be given all kinds of hands-on activities with a variety of materials in order for them to develop the foundational skills they will need for future abstract thinking. The use of worksheets and memorization may give the illusion that children are making great academic strides, but they must experience the process of discovery first hand in order for real learning to take place. It will help prepare them for the world they will learn in.