Chapter # 2 - The Human Brain - Cognitive and Linguistic Development

What?
The human brain is a complex organ that is essential for living. Each part of the brain serves an important function in cognitive and linguistic development. There are many studies and theories that help us understand the human brain. Two different researchers listed in this chapter have given us some valuable insight on human development. Jean Piaget believed that children develop cognitively through assimilation and accommodation in 4 different stages (sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operations & formal operational). He believed that each stage builds on the accomplishments of any preceding stage. Lev Vygotsky believed that adults in the child's life foster the child's cognitive development and that their background and experiences contribute to their cognitive and linguistic development.

So What?
By knowing about the different theories conducted by researchers such as Piaget and Vygotsky, educators are able to provide learning experiences that not only help the child develop according to what stage the child is in, but will also be able to provide and understand the importance of a child's background and the important role that adults can provide in their cognitive and linguistic development. Also, by understanding the human brain and it's functions, we will be able to provide a variety of learning experiences that will help the child be able to develop both cognitively and linguistically.

Now What?
Now that I've been introduced to the human brain, it's functions and some of the researchers who have dedicated their lives to studying human development, I need to apply what I've learned in my teaching and lesson planning. As a teacher of young children, I need to understand that their brains are still developing and that each child comes to class with their own background knowledge (schema) and that I can help provide experiences in my lessons that will build upon their stage of cognitive development and provide learning experiences that will be appropriate and engaging to their development and learning. I also need to study and understand each stage of development outlined by Piaget to understand the children's learning abilities and provide appropriate lessons where the child will succeed.