Course Contract Review #2

What are you doing well?
I feel that I have been doing well with keeping up with most of my assignments. I have been trying not to get behind. Though, I feel that I have gotten behind a little bit. One thing that I do feel that I have been doing good at is asking my classmates questions when I do not understand a specific topic. Which I feel has helped me out a great deal.

What are you not doing well?
For one, I feel that I have gotten behind just a little bit with some assignments. It doesn't feel good to get behind, at all! You know that ugly feeling that you get when you know something hasn't gotten done? That would be the one. I have been good at reading, but I have lacked with the SQ4R study method that I have chosen. Also, I feel that I am not doing well at finishing my homework in a timely manner.

Are you making sufficient progress on your goals?
I do believe that I am making progress. We could say "sufficient" progress is being made, though I know that I could be doing much better.

List specific things you need to change in order to meet your goals.
- I need to get back on the SQ4R study method.
- I need to finish my homework in a timely manner.
- It is very important to not allow myself to get behind with assignments.
- Being better with my study habits overall to do better on my tests. Because I know I can do better than I did on this past test.
- I need to make these changes in order to accomplish what I want & need to in the class.

Ch 2 Case Study Analysis

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

I feel that Laura is currently in the Formal Operations Stage of Piaget’s theory. There are a couple of reasons why I say this.

In this stage of Piaget’s theory, adolescents have the ability to think of ways to make recommendations to change things that may seem very logical. Though in reality, they are very unpractical. For example, Laura thinks that getting rid of gasoline in our society and having everyone walk is a good idea. It seems very logical, but as Mr. Marculescu pushes, it is not very practical. Especially with elderly people or single mothers as he as pointed out.

Also, Piaget says that in this stage of development, that adolescents thoughts reflect formal operational egocentrism. Which is an inability to separate one’s own logical thoughts from the perspectives of others. Hence, her not being able to see eye to eye to Mr. Marculescu thoughts, she stated that he was being unreasonable.

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

Well, Laura knows that pollution is indeed not a good thing. I feel that her reasoning is good in the sense that her heart is essentially in the right place with trying to reduce pollution by getting rid of gasoline. She realizes this as a problem, Though; she lacks the knowledge, or reasoning that this idea is not very practical. Though, in her mind it is the only way to go and she is a bit close minded in this sense. Her logic is correct and everyone else is being unreasonable. She’s being a bit ignorant in my opinion. At the same time, I feel that this also might be because of the stage of development she is in according to Piaget.

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.

By Mr. Marculescu asking Laura questions, this has many benefits. For example, with Vygotsky, you can bring in the zone of proximal development. By her being challenged by these questions, it helps develop her learning and problem solving abilities. It challenges her and promotes her cognitive development. With Piaget, I would dare say that it would reflect formal operational egocentrism. This means that the adolescent has the inability to separate their own logic from the perspectives of others. The adolescent only begins to adjust their logic with reality with experience. Laura being challenged per say by her teacher makes her think about her own logic. By doing this, it gets her mind going and gives her that experience.

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

Well, Piaget’s theory is all of what an adolescent should be able to do depending on what level of development he is in. Not necessarily what he can do, but what he should be able to do. So, according to Piaget, he shouldn’t technically be able to do something per say, till he reaches a particular stage of development. Though, with Vygotsky’s theory of play, he states, “In play a child is always above his average age, above his daily behavior, in play it is as though he were a head taller than himself.” With his theory, children are able to stretch their minds cognitively. This allows them to grow. They are not contained to just being able to do depending on where they are according to Piaget. With Vygotsky’s, they can grow depending on what they are doing and the circumstances and type of environment that they are in.