Piaget and Vygotsky`s theories are very different from each other. Piaget is more of an individual and cognitive constructivist, where Vygotsky is more of a social and relationship constructivist. Piaget focuses on stages of development, where Vygotsky does not have general stages of development. Vygotsky believes that education plays a powerful role for shaping thought. Where Piaget thinks education just refines the child`s cognitive skills that already have emerged. Both of them believe that teachers are a facilitator and a guide for students not a director. They both think teacher are there to support the student, but Piaget thinks learning is more of an individual concept, whereas Vygotsky thinks learning is more of a social process, where students can learn with the teacher and more-skilled peers.
That being said I think I agree with Vygotsky more. I agree with Vygotsky`s view about learning is situated and collaborative. I think guided practice can be really beneficial for students as they can see their mistakes and the teacher can guide them to see their errs. On the other hand, I think Piaget`s four stages of cognitive development are good to see where students should be, but people should realize that students may not always fit into those exact stages. Therefore, I think Vygotsky`s theory complements Piaget`s theory. You can use Piaget`s theory to understand the development thinking of children, but then use Vygotsky`s ideas of scaffolding or zone of proximal development to help the students grow and learn in their studies.
I discussed before that ideas change and what we believe is true at one point in time could be viewed wrong at another point in time. Piaget`s theory may have been viewed as right at one point, but as educational psychology progresses we will have different views or we can expand someone`s idea. Piaget`s and Vygotsky`s ideas are not necessarily right or wrong it is just their view on what they believe.
Picture of Jean Piaget
A picture of Lev Vygotsky
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