Cognitive Development (Ch. 3) Analysis Questions:

1. From the perspective of Piaget's theory, in which stage of cognitive development is Laura? Justify your response.
A. Laura is in the formal operational stage, because she is showing logical systematic thinking.

2. How is Laura's reasoning affected by her knowledge base--that is, by what she does and doesn't know about pollution? Use terminology from Ch. 3 in your response.

A. Her thought process is very egocentric because she is only considering her own perspective, she is not open to any new ideas.

3. By posing a series of questions, Mr. Marculescu continually challenges Laura to reconsider her thinking about the pollution problem. What are potential benefits of this strategy? Use terminology from Piaget's and Vygotsky's theories in your response.
A. It is making he ruse self talk and inner speech. This process is also using a lot of scaffolding, the teacher is trying to support answers and make her do the same. Also assimilation is taking place in Lauras discussion, because she is trying to make sense of her current schemas.

4. How does this scenario represent Piaget's and Vygotsky's conceptions of play?
A. Because she is using objects that are available to support her argument.