what would a classroom look like using Piaget's principles?

Question

physically,activities of students

Answer 1

This is an often mis-understood topic since Piaget never talked about how to use his research in practice. I was taught by Constance Kamii, Piaget's English language translator,

People who study Piaget would say the teacher's role in education is to set up the environment and provide the resources students need to develop autonomy, logico-mathematical knowledge, and social information. The classroom would be set up for students to be able to be as independent as possible. Students should be able to get all the materials they need and access all the information they need. Social interaction is also important as it is through interacting with others that students develop independent thought.
The curriculum would be based on student's interests and content would be provided in a natural context.

Teachers would be looking for the "teachable moment." That is a point at which the child is questioning his thinking and trying to assimilate or accomodate new information. The teacher would use questions or Socratic methods to guide the student. However, the teacher does not provide "correct" answers generally as it is logical thinking they are after not correct answers.

See Young Children Reinvent Arithmetic by Constance Kamii
Group Games for Early Childhood by Constance Kamii
for pictures of classrooms and activities based on Piaget's Research.

Answer 2

Wow! This brings back memories! I taught for 35 years and this was a "biggy" in the early 1970's. As you can imagine I survived many "new" (ha!) methods of teaching. They use to call this The Language Experience Approach to teaching and learning. Now we have the Balanced Literacy Approach --same thing. Guided reading use to be called " reading groups".
Anyway, if you want to know about Piaget and the way teachers set up a classroom to teach using this method you need to understand the whole philosophy. Check out Wikopedia for some basics if you're not too clear on it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constructivist_teaching_methods


Learning centers are a great asset to add to the classroom. They enable the student to experience a concept at his own pace. The Balanced Literacy Centers, I feel, do not do this because they are too structured. A Learning Center can be placed in a room and children can use them when they complete required work. I like to use 2 to 3 centers along with a Library corner and a pass to the Computer Lab and the School Library. When a child completes the assigned tasks they can pick one or two centers to learn something more about what is being taught in science , social studies, math or lanquage. The child works on assigned tasks while the teacher is working with small groups in reading and/or math.These centers can incorporate literature on a concept, art or even music projects. The computer can also be used with sites already on for a particular topic.
Again, when they are not in group and they have finished the assigned tasks then they can pick a center. The centers do not have to be graded. The child feels independent and will be responsible for the center and will actually learn something extra. Of course some rules must be set. No more than 2 or 4 students at one spot, work quietly, and help each other etc.
Have many areas in the room set up as comfortable spots for the students. Get a bean bag or inflatable chair for just reading. Set up an art center with a certain project with all directions and materials.

I can go on forever. As it seems now, after all these years, Piaget was really somewhat of a mentor to me. Here is a site that appears to explain how you might set up a classroom. There really is no one way to do so. The only criteria is to have the child be able to explore and learn in a structured way (without them realizing it).

http://www.sedl.org/scimath/compass/v01n03/1.html

One good way of knowing how this type of classroom is set up is to observe some teachers who teach using this method. Perhaps your school district will give you some release time to do this.

Good luck!:)

Answer 3

Piaget is about constructivism, it is about understanding the children stage on mental development, for instance sensoriomotor, formal operations, concrete ones, etc. The problem some people say had Piaget theory was that he only observed his sons, I dont think thats a problem, i think was a good point he mixed feelings with his method.

Piaget never intended to give instructions on teaching children, he said it was important to go by the answers of the children, from that moment the adult will understand the child stage and also will equilibrate, accomodate some skills to promote knowledge, it was like a self discovery not imposition, at least thats the idea I get from his theory, re-discovering new meanings and also new experiences.

Answer 4

Piagetian Classroom

Answer 5

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Answer 6

Great point, I'm interested to know more too

Answer 7

Thankyou for the answers everyone <3