Child Psychology- Childhood: Voyages in Development

Both Piaget and Vygotsky have influenced how children, especially in elementary school, are taught. Piaget emphasized the child as an active learner who progressed through discrete stages of cognitive development. Thus, knowing the childs appropriate cognitive stage is crucial for appropriate learning to take place. Vygotsky coined the term zone of proximal development to show how important the culture and older individuals are in guiding the child through learning. In addition, Vygotsky presaged the mainstreaming concept, where handicapped children are in the same classes as nonhandicapped children so that each can learn from the other. Discuss some of the pros and cons associated with mainstreaming.