Question

Who among the following theorists view the child as an active participant in the learning process?
A. Skinner
B. Freud
C. Piaget
D. Vygotsky
E. Bronfenbrenner
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

• A. B, C and D only
• B. B and C only
• C. C and D only
• D. A, C and D only

Hint:

Active Participant = Constructivism.
Constructivism = Piaget (Cognitive focus) + Vygotsky (Social focus).
Piaget says \enquote{Development leads learning,} while Vygotsky says \enquote{Learning leads development.}

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question asks to identify the psychological theorists who belong to the Constructivist school of thought.
The constructivist perspective argues that children are not passive recipients of information but active agents who construct their own knowledge through interaction and experience.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:

• Jean Piaget (C): Known for his theory of Cognitive Development, Piaget believed children are little scientists who explore their environment. Through processes of assimilation and accommodation, they actively build mental schemas to understand the world.

• Lev Vygotsky (D): His Socio-cultural theory emphasizes that children actively construct knowledge, but with a focus on social interaction and language. The concept of the \enquote{Zone of Proximal Development} highlights the child's active participation in learning with the help of a more knowledgeable other.

• Exclusion of other theorists: Skinner (A) was a behaviorist who saw learning as a passive response to stimuli (rewards/punishments). Freud (B) focused on unconscious drives. Bronfenbrenner (E) focused on the environmental systems/context rather than the cognitive mechanics of active participation in a learning task.

Step 3: Final Answer:
Piaget and Vygotsky are the two giants of developmental psychology who view children as active participants in their cognitive growth.
Therefore, the correct answer is C and D only.