Case Study Analysis - Chapter 2

1. From the perspective of Piaget's theory, in which stage of cognitive development is Laura? Justify your response.

Laura is in the formal operations stage. Through analyzing Laura's debate with Mr. Marculescu, we can see how Laura can comprehend abstract thoughts, such as how to solve the problem of pollution. Laura can think of how to solve this problem and how the world can change. However, Laura exhibits formal operational egocentrism, meaning that although Laura can develop a solution to the idea of pollution. Laura cannot separate who own ideas from practical considerations. Some of her ideas on curing the problem of pollution can simply not be practically asked of people (i.e. people are not going to walk their trash to the landfill).

2. How is Laura's reasoning affected by her knowledge base--that is, by what she does and doesn't know about pollution?

Laura focuses on one main problem of pollution and that is how car exhaust can cause air pollution. Laura obviously knows some facts about how cars can hurt the environment. Her main argument is that people should cease to drive cars as to eliminate damage to the atmosphere. However, Laura seems to feel land fills are not also a serious problem of pollution. She discusses how people will still walk their trash to land fills, but the problem of pollution will be solved because the use of gasoline will be eliminated. Laura's reasoning reveals her knowledge base.

3. By posing a series of questions, Mr. Marculescu continually challenges Laura to reconsider her thinking about the pollution problem. What are potential benefits of this strategy? Use terminology from Piaget's and Vygotsky's theories in your response.

Interation with others and the use of language is important to both Vygotsky and Piaget. Piaget believes when children and adolescents cannot apply a concept into a current scheme, they must either assimilate (adjust a current scheme) or accomodate (create a new scheme) to deal with the new concept. Mr. Marculescu is helping Laura to assimilate her current scheme of thinking about pollution by questioning her reasoning. This is making Laura aware of new viewpoints (whether or not she accepts them).

Vygotsky believes strongly in the mentoring of young and adolescent children by adults. The situation occurring between Mr. Marculescu and Laura is a perfect example of a cognitive apprenticeship. In a cognitive apprenticeship, someone who is older and more expriences explains how they think and reason about a certain topic in order to help a younger and less experienced individual learn how to reason on his or her own. Through his questioning, Mr. Marculescu is giving Laura cues as to how she should properly think about pollution.

4. How does this scenario represent Piaget's and Vygotsky's conceptions of play?

As I said before, both Piaget and Vygotsky believe very strongly in the benefits of social interaction. Piaget believes young children and adolescents learn as they socially interact with others. As Laura is interacting with Mr. Marculescu, she is engaging different parts of her brain that she ay not have used on her own. Through interacting with Mr. Marculescu, Laura is thinking about pollution and associating them with her interactions with Mr. Marculescu. By having some sort of connection, Laura will be able to better remember what she is learning.

Vygotsky believes strongly in the concept of "play." Vygotsky argues that play helps a person develop cognitively. When children play, they often imitate real world situations. Laura and Mr. Marculescu are simulating a debate, which often happens in the business and work atmostphere. Mr. Marculescu is helping model a real world situation which will help Laura understand how to appropriately argue in the future.