The purpose is to discuss two competing theories of learning in preschool based on preschool teachers' views of knowledge and learning. The focus is mathematical learning but the discussion is applicable to all early childhood learning contexts. Preschool teachers' views on children's learning and development is important for the pedagogy they use…

Malcolm Knowles laments the paucity of "thinking, investigating, and writing about adult learning" in the opening sentence of his theoretical framework of "Andragogy" (1998, p. 35). Knowles' central argument is that we learn differently as adults from how we learn as children, so we should tailor adult education accordingly. Knowles highlighted…

Piaget's constructs of concrete-operational and formal-operational stages are illustrated by quoting comments from Piaget and Inhelder (1958), summarizing the kinds of reasoning to be expected at each substage, and relating this reasoning to specific mathematical items. (DT)

Examples of topics and problems which demand Piaget's formal operational thought at an early stage in the secondary school are provided. (DT)

Examines Piaget's theory of cognitive development with particular reference to the teaching of chemistry in the secondary school. Concludes that the theory has many fundamental weaknesses, with respect to analyzing curriculum materials in terms of levels of thought and should not be used as the basis for course assessment. (GA)

Investigation of the learning process has led to many theories and some systematic knowledge. The question of how to design instruction to promote effective learning and the subsidiary question of the behavioral controls involved are examined in the light of known facts about the major categories of learned capabilities. (Author/TS)

Fifteen kindergarten children, who began the study with Piaget's stage II seriation capabilities (they could serial order sticks but could not insert a number of sticks into an already ordered set), were individually given 30 minutes of seriation training on three consecutive days. Cue fading and the manipulation of discrimination levels were used…

Different types of understandings are presented as different facets of the development of the mental processes. (MP)

The focus of this discussion is on the providing of educational experiences which will help students develop skills at various levels of learning awareness. Examples of different levels and the skills associated with them are presented. (JP)

This study was designed to assess the effectiveness of one semester's instruction in science and mathematics, using an inquiry-based methodology, in facilitating cognitive growth in first year college students. Results indicated the inquiry approach did not promote cognitive growth in comparison with a more didactic or expository teaching…

For meaningful learning of mathematics, a learning set is required which demands that all things accepted as true should be demonstrable in terms of a paradigm appropriate to the child's cognitive development: preparatory, concrete-particular, concrete-general, formal-abstract. Future teachers should experience all paradigms to become aware that…

Students who viewed demonstrations or manipulated apparatus understood the relational concepts (of the form a/b = a'/b') of speed, force, and work better than a control group, but did not differ significantly from each other. (AL)

Piaget's theory of developmental stages was implemented in an elementary school curriculum. Some successful learning experiences are described. (CP)

Summarizes Piagetian developmental psychology, and describes a study in which trainee elementary school teachers administered Piagetian tasks to pupils. During this time the teachers were being instructed in the development of children's thought processes. Results support the continued use of the method. (AL)