Piaget's Theory Of Intellectual Development

Piaget’s theory focuses immensely on how a child processes the experiences around them. He was drawn to their thinking pattern, and essentially studied how the intellectual development in children takes place and how they evolve from children to adults. He discovered that during the course of development, children are as intelligent as adults, the only distinction being their thinking processes which is relatively different. James, at ten years of age, is categorized under the concrete operational stage of Piaget’s developmental theory which age range is 7 – 11 years old. This stage is characterized by rational, more operational and logical thoughts. James can be seen at this stage using his logic abilities, learning to sort objects on the

James is able to process any adjustment by assimilating, accommodating and equilibrating the experiences that comes his way. James assimilates when he uses an existing schema to deal with a new experience, object or situation. Accommodation happens when the existing schema (existing knowledge gained) cannot apply to a new experience or situation, and needs to be changed to deal with the new experience, object or situation. Equilibration is the force behind learning, the more James experiences new objects, gather more knowledge, having new evidences, his brain accommodates and think differently, changing his understanding of the new schema thereby causing him to equilibrate, act differently and demonstrate a new behavior or thinking. Should James ‘ball’ get stuck again, his chances of success will be rated higher than the author’s initial

James thinking changed. Who changes? James keeps changing from one stage to another. Who causes the change? James causes the change at the different stages. What causes the change? Through adaptation; assimilation, accommodation and equilibration James is able to effect the changes. How do early experiences relate to later development? James is not able to go back to his earlier experiences; however, he can assimilate, accommodate and equilibrate earlier experiences to refine and add to later schemas. How does physical development contribute? Physical development is required for normal, physical and cognitive development. James growth physically is also proportionate to his cognitive development. His assimilating, accommodating and equilibrating his experiences enables him to effect changes appropriate to his development. Is it Quantitative and Qualitative? The changes that occur to James through his experiences are both quantitative and qualitative. Can making a choice guide development? James experiences will invariably build his schemas; and based on his experiences, this will prompt his decision to choose from the options provided to