Piaget's Classroom

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PIAGET’S CLASSROOM In Ann M. Bingham-Newman and Ruth A. Saunders’ (1977) article, “Take a New Look at Your Classroom with Piaget as a Guide,” the two women analyze children’s intellectual development and a teacher’s role in it from a Piagetian view. They point out several principles from Piaget’s theory that provide a basis for classroom atmosphere, curriculum development, and teacher role. Dr. Bingham-Newman and Saunders (1977) believe that Piaget’s conclusion that logic develops is his most important. Principles of Development Learning is an Active Process Dr. Bingham-Newman and Saunders (1977) state that “thought is the internalization of action” (p. 63). Teachers create an environment and provide materials and equipment, enabling the child to interact with the environment. The child should be able to explore and manipulate materials of the surroundings (Bingham-Newman & Saunders, 1977). My own personal experience has led me to agree with Bingham-Newman and Saunders. In experiences where there was an enriched environment, learning comes so much easier. The participants were less likely to grow bored and impatient, and as part of the enriched environment, teachers offered a higher amount of motivation. In experiences that involved a teacher just teaching for the paycheck and poor surroundings, there seems to be a lack of desire to learn and little motivation from the teacher. Enrichment and motivation just have to come from other places, such as home oran education center. Sadly, some families do not have the resources to ensure a positive learning center. Fixed Sequence in Development with Individual Variations The second principle of Piaget’s theory, according to Dr. Bingham-Newman and Saunders (1977), is that the steps of development are in a fixed sequence and individuals will proceed at varying paces. By knowing these steps, instructors are
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