Week 1 Assignment 1B

"If We Will Only Learn To Let Live, The Plan For Growth Is All There"-Erikson

Describing 5 of the development and learning theories thus far, beginning with.... (not the time piece) 

"In all psychology, few theorists are as important as Jean Piaget (1896-1980), who forged the single-most comprehensive and compelling theory of intellectual development." Crain (2005) This is not to say his theories go uncontested, matter of fact, fast-forward and you see challenges to his school of thought.  Out of these imitated other learning theories we will explore.  Piaget was one of the first to identify children 'passing through stages' and they do so at different rates.  I found it thought provoking he claimed children move through these stages in the same order, 'invariant sequence'.  An assignment here to reflect the thoughts and research of Piaget...I would have my students interview their parent(s) of their best memories of student interviewers early modes of childhood.  The duologue here would be encouraging, hopefully, as well as insightful.  My students could begin to place themselves inside what they are learning in a tactile way.  Apply the stages of Piaget in an informal way with their parent.  I would for see this exercise as one that would evoke many feelings and emotions centered around making what the student is learning applicable to themselves. 

Kohlberg's Stages of Moral Development

In Kohlberg's method, he facilitated the discovery of six stages, giving credit to the first three due to Piaget work.  I liked what drove Kohlberg to his theory, it was not the yes or no of the child but rather the dilemma behind the child's reason to answer yes or no.  His work came out of a 'need' to further what he considered Piaget's 'unfinished' work.  He is best referenced for the stages 5 to 6, which distinguish adolescence civil disobedience.  The emphasis of basic rights allowing 'all' a voice.  This balance, in the end, leads to, "agreements will be most just." Crain (2005)  This would be a fun around the class exercise.  Being the age range of my high school students would suit perfectly.  

Vygotsky's Theory

"Vygotsky tried to create a theory that allowed for the interplay between the two lines of development, 'natural' and 'social-histrorical' that influences the child." Crain (2005)  Fascinating and should be shared, Vygotsky was only 38 when he passed on due to tuberculosis.  This young man, or known as the "little professor" came from a large accomplished family and actually studies Law.  Although he made a living as a teacher based in literature and psychology he made an extremely impactful impression on the psychology community.  His enthusiasm in his lectures was inspired to build a new 'Marxist' socialist society.  Credit to his friends and followers who kept his work present as the Communist party condemned his work.  There has seemed to be much room for evolution of thought here in Vygotsky's work.  My favorite take away from Vygotsky's teachings, "The single-most important psychological tool is speech.  Speech frees our thoughts and attention from the immediate perceptual field."  Most humans can agree, this is exactly what sets the human race apart from all others.  

The gifts of Erikson's substantial psychoanalytic theory of developmental advances gave stages of this development to encompass all stages of life.  The entire life cycle.  His contribution has the opportunity to be even more interesting given his background and adolescent obstacles he faced early on and continued to uncover through adulthood.  All of the information is summaries pretty high level above.  Teaching his personality of development to a classroom, I would make sure my classroom identified with Erikson's history as to find commonality among the group and thus a 'want' to learn and know more about Erikson.  Being that my focus is to teach high school...the Puberty or Identity vs. Role Confusion would be my focus.  Utilize Erikson's theory to better understand the self that is learning.  I love the sentence here, "To understand identity formation, it is important to recognize that it is a lifelong process."  As shown, we never stop learning, no matter the stage.  

In my teaching style, my hope would be to mirror Maslow's simplistic yet effective theory.  The imagery used for the purpose of this blog is also effective as it is relative to our world today.  Especially among our youth, WIFI!!  This would definitely be seen as a basic human need.  The reality though, through interactive teaching and learning, Maslow's 5 areas of need could allow understanding and cognitive awareness to begin as to why, the Wifi portion becomes laughable.  Keeping my lesson plan simple yet current and relevant will definitely make a difference in the engagement level.  Engaged students that have an educator involvement can only create one of our Basic Human Needs.