Cognitive Development (Ch. 3) Analysis Questions

Cognitive Development (Ch. 3) Analysis Questions:
1. Laura is in the preoperational stage of Piaget’s stages of cognitive development. She is trying to solve the environmental issue in her debate class, but she isn’t able to think realistically and logically. This is what keeps her from being in the concrete operational stage and leaves her stuck in the preoperational stage of Piaget’s theory.

2. Laura is trying to solve the environmental debate by using assimilation. She is using information she already knows to solve a problem that is much more complicated than her logic can handle. She should probably use accommodation. Laura needs to think outside of what she knows and be realistic in her problem solving, but the stage of cognitive development that she is in will not allow her to think that critically. She is stuck and frustrated in her lack of logic.

3. Mr. Marculescu’s strategy frustrates Laura, but he is trying to get her to stop being so egocentric. Laura is having a hard time realizing that his questions are leading her to more logical answers. If she could look at the problem from his point of view she might be able to come up with some realistic ideas and be more effective in her debate. Another way to look at Mr. Marculescu’s strategy is to look at it as him taking the role of the mentor or tutor to Laura, the apprentice. He is more capable and experienced and is trying to lead her into more effective answers.

4. Play in this case study, would be, interacting with your students by asking questions and leading them into more critical thinking. Mr. Marculescu is playing with Laura by asking her questions to help her eventually find the holes in her answers. She doesn’t know that her ideas are unrealistic and can’t think logically enough on her own to come to that conclusion, so the teacher has to play with her thought process to get her to see different perspectives.