Difference between Vygotsky and Piaget

            Swiss philosopher Jean Piaget and Russian psychologist Lev Vygotsky each develop their own theories on child development. Their theories help us understand how children learn and how we, as teachers, should teach children.  Piaget developed four stages of development. The child must complete each stage before moving on to the next stage and each stage goes according to the child’s age and experience. Vygotsky theory, on the other hand, has nothing to do with time. He believed that a child learns through culture and language. He also believed that if a child is given a task that is at his/her developmental level, and that is culturally related, then the child will be able to perform the task; and if the task is even beyond the child developmental stage, with encouragement and guidance they will be able to perform the task.

Both Piaget and Vygotsky theories can be incorporated in teaching and learning. From my experience working with children, I see that culture and language plays a very important role in a child’s acquisition of knowledge; and  with the right tools and help, a child can progress mentally far beyond their chronological age.  I have also seen children, whose mental ability falls far behind their chronological years, due to their cultural environment.  At fours years old, they have not yet completed Piaget first stage, sensorimotor.  Finally, even though the two theorists have different views on a child’s cognitive development, both theories can be combined and use to help children acquire knowledge, seeing that the classroom is filled with students that have diverse knowledge and experience.