Target new information at
the level of the learner
Make the new
information relatable
Link it to information they
are already familiar with
The target/new information
should be challenging
If the task is too easy
it leads to boredom
If the task is to hard it
leads to frustration
The new information should
be just above the learners
current learning ability
This produces the
optimal amount of
learning
Learning Precedes
Development
To develop you
have to learn first
Learning produces
development
Development doesn't
necessarily produce learning
Learning disabilities
Slow learners
Cultural Tools
Language
Writing
Numbers
Art
Codes
Play is
important
Playing, exercise and other activities allow the
learner to stretch cognitive function through
physical activities, which become useful for purely
cognitive functions both in the short and long term
Criticisms of
Vygotsky's Theory
Not every child is at the same
level of development
What is the perfect challenge for
some students, may be too
difficult, or too easy for others
This means that some students
will have an optimal learning
experience while others may
become either frustrated or bored
The theory assumes that all subjects
require the same level of
knowledge/understanding
Positives of Vygotsky's
Theory
Culturally universal
like Erikson's Theory
Takes into consideration
the different speeds and
ways in which children
learn and develop
Focuses more on learning as a whole,
rather than individual learning
Does not have a
hierarchical structure
Allows for flexiblity
Individuals don't have
to be bound by certain
norms, or phases that
they are expected
complete in order
Only provides a general
outline of development
Knowledge is
co-constructed
Learning is not just
dependant on the learner
Learning is affected
(positively or negatively) by
the environment
A good classroom and home
environment is key to
effective learning
A bad class/home environment
will adversely affect the learner
Learning is affected (positively or
negatively) by other people
Encouragement
is important
Lack of encouragement is
detrimental to the
self-esteem of the individual
Constructive criticism
is important
Criticism without reason is
damaging to the individual
and their desire to learn
Social and Emotional Domain (Erikson's Psychosocial Theory)
The two dimensions of 'self' in
Erikson's Theory
Self - esteem
Self-esteem is how an individual sees
and feels about themselves
The level of pride a person
has in themselves
Affective judgement
(feelings)
E.g. "It makes me
feel good when I
get a good mark
in science."
Self-concept
Self-concept is the ideas, attitudes
and beliefs an individual has about
themselves in a specific area.
Self-concept can change and
develop over time
Self-concept can be influenced by
social comparison
Self-concept is the cognitive
judgement an individual has about
their aptitude in a specific area.
E.g. "I am good at Math, but I
am not good at English."
Crises
In each of the eight stages of
development, there is a set of
'crises' that must be overcome to
reach optimal development within
that stage, and develop the
ego-identity of the individual
Adaptive (positive)
resolution of the
'crises'
Promotes development
and a greater self-concept
Maladaptive (negative)
resolution of the 'crises'
Which supposedly makes it harder for the individual to move to the
next stage of development, and may damage their self-concept
The 'crises' are caused by both
biological maturation (age) and the
social environment of the
individual
The Eight Stages of
Erikson's theory
Stage one - birth to 18 months
Trust vs. Mistrust
The individual has learnt to
trust their parents/gardians
Stage two - 18 months to 3 years
Autonomy vs.
Shame and Doubt
Starts to show self
expression (own
opinions/will, tests
the boundaries)
Stage three - 3 to 6 years
Initiative vs. Guilt
Becoming more independent,
learning social relationships and
beginning to understand their
place in the family unit
Stage four - 6 to 12 years
Industry vs. Inferiority
Developing social skills,
relationships with peers become
extremely important, become
aware of their strengths and
weaknesses
Stage five - 13-19 years
Identity vs. confusion
Become aware of other peoples
opinions of them, start to care
about what they wear, how they
look, how they can fit in etc.
Stage six - 20 to 35 years
Intimacy vs. Isolation
There's a strong desire to
fall in love and start a
family. Inability to develop
intimacy in any relationship
most likely produces
feelings of isolation.
Stage seven - 35 to 65 years
Generativity vs. Stagnation
Working and contributing to
society in one way or another,
raising children. If unable to
find things to do/be
productive, it can lead to
feelings of stagnation
Stage eight - 65 years +
Integrity vs. Dispair
Look back on their life, think
about what they have and have
not done. Not having done
everything they wanted to do
can lead to despair.
Criticisms of
Erikson's Theory
Many people reflect on
life before stage eight
For example, a 19 year old who
has just been diagnosed with a
terminal illness is forced to
reflect on their life well before
they reach the age of 65+
That an individual must go
through 'crises' to develop their
ego-identity
What does he mean by crises?
Not every person goes
through major crises
It's not individualised
because people deal with
things differently
Positives of
Erikson's Theory
Is universal across all
cultures and time periods
Is not limited to one
religion, race, or time
Is just as applicable to Hindu's,
as to Muslims, as to Christians
Classed in stages not
phases or transitions
Other theorists classed them
as phases and transitions
rather than stages
The stages are
quite accurate in
their age brackets
Give or take a
few years
Maintains the view that
development continues
all through life
Development does
not stop at any point
Spiritual Domain (Fowler's Theory)
The six stages of
Fowler's theory
(plus stage 0)
Stage zero - Infancy
Primal faith
The infant forms a trust in
parents and or caregivers
This offsets separation
anxiety in young
children
May form also form a
mistrust of parents and or
caregivers
Stage four - Late
adolesence to
young adulthood
Individuative-reflective faith
Become more
autonomous
Aren't defined by a group
Make their own decisions
about their faith
Take responsibility for
their own beliefs
Own their own faith
Stage six - Adulthood
(may or may not occur)
Universalizing faith
Break away from the
restraints of society and
commit fully to their
beliefs and values
E.g. Love, absolute
justice, opposing evil
in a non-violent way
Willing to pay the
ultimate price for
their decision
Stage two -
School age
Mythic-literal faith
Can distinguish between
make-believe and reality
Able to accept that
there is a God
Able to accept that other
people may not have the
same belief as they do
View him as
consistant, caring,
and just ruler/parent
figure
Child has the belief that good is
rewarded and bad is punished
Learn later on that bad things
happen to good people and good
things happen to bad people
Stage three -
Adolesence
Synthetic-conventional
faith
Can think
logically
Begin to
question things
"Is god real?"
Critical
thinking and
reasoning
Many things begin to
have a greater
influence on their
outlook on themselves
and their beliefs.
Identity becomes
a big concern
Concerned with
others opnions of
them
Their circle of friends
becomes more important
Crave a sense of
belonging
Desire to fit in
Stage one - Toddler to
Preschool age
Intuitive-projective faith
Not bound by logic
No real understanding of
God but they believe
Haven't adopted the skepticism
that comes with adulthood
Believe what they're told
E.g. Believe in Santa Claus, the
Easter Bunny, etc.
Stage five -
Adulthood
Conjunctive faith
More tolerant of other
peoples values and beliefs
Recognise that understanding other
beliefs can deepen their own values
Rely on their own
values and beliefs
Makes sense of paradoxes
within their faith
E.g. God is sovereign and yet
lowered Himself to become a
human and be put to death
Criticisms of
Fowler's Theory
It's a hierarchical
structure (like
Piaget's Theory)
Some people dont follow
a set structure
Possibly because of a pivotal
and/or traumatic moment
May have caused them
to reach a stage earlier
or later than Fowler's
theory states
Positives of
Fowler's Theory
Most people follow
these stages, whether
in order or not
The stages up to
toddler/preschool age
are especially accurate
as they have not yet
been able to form their
own opinions and
beliefs about God
Even though the stages are
meant to be hierarchical,
they can also be flexible
depending on the person
Fowler is true in saying that
many people don't reach a
stage in life where they are
willing to pay the ultimate
price for what they believe in
He is also true in saying
that the people who do
reach this stage, break
away from the restraints of
society and fully commit to
their values and beliefs
For example: Persecuted
Christians in Syria stand firm in
their beliefs even unto death
Moral Developmental Theory (Kohlberg's Theory)
The three levels of
Kohlberg's Theory
Level one: Pre-conventional
moral reasoning
Stage 1
Punishment-Obedience
Orientation
Obedience for obedience
sake - because they were
told to obey
People avoid
breaking rules for
fear of
punishment
Criticisms
Living in fear of
punishment is
not always
healthy.
For example: Women
who have been abused
don't want to report it
because their attacker
has threatened to hurt
them if they told anyone
Stage 2
Instrumental
Relativist Orientation
Personal
reward and gain
Acting in accordance
with individual
interests (egocentrics)
"You scratch my back
and I'll scratch yours."
Criticisms
Many times the
needs of people
conflict with each
other and there
can't always be a
compromise
Level two: Conventional
moral reasoning
Stage 3
Good boy/nice
girl orientation
Living up to what is
expected of them
Values maintaining
relationships -
"What will people
think of me?"
Desires approval
from people
Criticims
Everyone wants
something different
from the same person,
this will eventually result
in having to disappoint
someone
Stage 4
Law and order
orientation
The right thing to
do is to
contribute to
society and fulfill
social duties
Rules are to be
followed and
obeyed unless
they're in conflict
with other duties
Criticims
Absolute obedience to
authority is not healthy
Example: Marshall
Applewhite asked his
cult to commit suicide
to go up to a UFO
waiting for them. All 39
people obeyed without
question
Level three: Post-conventional
moral reasoning
Stage 5
Social Contract
orientation
Have an awareness of
the social contracts
between individuals
and that they may
have different moral
perspectives
Rules shouldn't be
blindly followed
Rules should exist to
benefit all of society and
should be changed if
necessary
Criticims
What if the
minority group
didn't agree
with the
consensus of
the majority,
would they still
follow those
rules?
Stage 6
Universal Ethical
Principles orientation
Right and wrong is
based on personal
ethical principals
Equal Human
rights, Justice,
etc.
Criticims
Personal
morality is not
an infallible
standard for
behaviour
A persons conscience is buildt
upon the values and beliefs that
they have adopted throughout
life. Each person is different
Jesus is an example of a
person who regarded His
personal beliefs and morals
as higher than the law
The Heinz
Dilemma
Proposed a scenario
and gave predictions
on the reactions that
would be common
to each stage based
on their moral
reasoning's
Criticisms of
Kohlberg's Theory
Positives of
Kohlberg's Theory
His stages are not
defined by an age group
This allows for more
flexibility in regards
to what stage a
person is at
Once someone reaches a stage
they rarely go backwards
'Rarely' Indicates that it is
possible, but highly unlikely
Some people
are a mix of
multiple stages
Teenagers, for
example, are
commonly a mix of
stages 2, 3 and 5
It is supposed to
be a hierarchical
structure, with
every person
passing through
the same stages
in the same
order
However, because
it isn't limited by
ages, it can be
interpreted as
more flexible