Cognitive Development Case Study Analysis

Case Study: http://docs.google.com/View?id=dc7d3btp_29f766g7cp

1- I think this case shows a couple of examples of disequilibrium, which when one's thinking is not consistent with our world experiences. One example is when Lucy's grandpa died last summer and she never saw the body and her parents told her he just went to heaven. So Lucy doesn't know why Ringo hasn't gone to heaven. That caused her an disequilibrium in what she knows of the world. Even the subject of heaven is still a mystery to Lucy and Amy.

2- Preoperational Stage is when child can not think logically but they are able to use their intuition. Amy couldn't understand that Ringo was dead but they intuitively knew something was wrong with him because he was not acting like his normal self. Egocentrism is when you can't understand the world from someone else's situation. Lucy and Amy can not understand what it is like to go to heaven so they wonder if you would have to eat there. They also think everyone has this same opinion.

3- Vygotskian theorist would probably suggest that Ms. Bowman ask the children what think happens when someone dies. It is a delicate subject and with their egocentric nature they might be more comfortable with confirmation of their own beliefs. I think they will come their own terms of their own explanation of the afterlife when they are ready. Just try to comfort them in a way that is comfortable to them.

4- I think taking care of a pet in school promotes a students'cognitive development by showing them responsibility, independence, and a sense of duty. These are important skills for students to learn in life.