Educational Theorists

Theorist

Findings or Ideas

Maslow

Hierarchy of Needs

(19081970)

Significance
MOTIVATION/Holistic
Approach to Teaching

Intrinsic Motivation

Self-Actualization

Teacher must
address ALL needs
(physical,
emotional, and
intellectual) or
student wont learn
at max potential

a person is always
'becoming' and
never remains
static

*I disagree with
hierarchy; a
homeless person
can be selfactualized
B.F.
Skinner
(19041990)

Jean Piaget
(18961980)

operant conditioning
reinforcing stimulus
argued that when a childs action
repeatedly brings positive effects, it
will be repeated and learned.
negative results repeatedly occur, the
child will eventually stop the action.

Constructivism/ Cognitive Developmental

Theory

Children actively construct

knowledge as they manipulate and
explore world
4 universal stages of cognitive

BEHAVIOR/MOTIVATION

Extrinsic Motivation

Rewards &
Punishments

Positive & Negative

Reinforcement

LEARNING

Developmentally
appropriate tasks

learning through
interaction with

Educational Theorists

Lev
Vygotsky
(18981934)

Urie
Bronfenbre
nner

development (shapes how they see

& learn about the world)
1. Sensorimotor
2. Pre-operational (2-7): represent
objects by images and words,
egocentric (unable to take others
views), classify objects according
to one feature
3. Concrete operational (7-11): Can
think logically about objects
and events, Achieves
conservation of number (age 6),
mass (age 7), and weight (age
9), Classifies objects according
to several features and can order
them in series along a single
dimension such as size
4. Formal operational (11+)
Development is biologically based
Focused on adaptation- building of
schemas through interaction
Social Development Theory
biological development and cultural
experiences influenced childrens
ability to think and learn.
social contact was essential for
intellectual development.

ecological systems theory

environment

knowledge is stored
categorically in
SCHEMAS
o

help students
make
connections!

LEARNING

social interaction =
cognitive
development

Zone of Proximal
Development

Scaffolding

Make-believe play

everything in a child
and the childs
environment affects
how the child grows
and develops

behavior varies
depending on
environment

(19172005)

Educational Theorists

Howard
Gardner

theory of multiple intelligences

(1943Present)
*see chart

Erik
Erikson
(19021994)
*see chart

Psychosocial Development

personality develops through stages

each stage includes a unique
psychological crisis.
1. Autonomy vs Shame & Doubt
(1-3): providing reasonable free
choice fosters independence;
force and shame inhibits
independence
2. Initiative vs Guilt (3-6): makebelieve play fosters a sense of
ambition and purpose;
demanding too much self-control

Multi-modal
instruction

Differentiation

Different ways to
teach, learn, and
assess

Interactions
between the
individual, society
and culture shape
personality.

Developmentally
appropriate tasks

lifespan model of
developmentcontinued growth

Educational Theorists

Albert
Bandura
(1925
-)

makes children feel guilty for

wanting purpose
3. Industry vs. Inferiority (6-11):
children learn to work and
cooperate with others; inferiority
develops from negative
experiences/feeling incompetent
Social learning theory
children learn by observing/through
modeling
although the environment shapes
behavior, behavior also affects the
environment.
direct reinforcement cannot account
for all types of learning.

and development
throughout ones
life.

Modeling as an
instructional tool

Importance of Role
Models

Rewards dont work

for everyone

Students must learn

Self-efficacy: they
believe they are
capable of success

Kohlberg

theory of moral development

(19271987)

Based on Piaget

outlined six stages within three different levels

moral development is a continual process that occurs throughout the

lifespan

explained how children develop moral reasoning.

*see chart