Jean Piaget facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jean Piaget
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Piaget at the University of Michigan, c. 1968
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| Born |
Jean William Fritz Piaget
9 August 1896 Neuchâtel, Switzerland
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| Died | 16 September 1980 (aged 84) Geneva, Switzerland
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| Alma mater | University of Neuchâtel |
| Known for | Constructivism, genetic epistemology, theory of cognitive development, object permanence, egocentrism |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Developmental psychology, epistemology |
Jean Piaget (9 August 1896 - 16 September 1980) was a Swiss developmental psychologist. He is famous for his work with children and how they learn. Piaget placed great importance on the education of children. As the Director of the International Bureau of Education, he declared in 1934 that "only education is capable of saving our societies from possible collapse, whether violent, or gradual." His theory of child development is studied in pre-service education programs. Educators continue to use his idea's.
At first, Piaget was a biologist. He was especially interested in mollusks and he had published several articles on the subject by the age of 15. Before Piaget became a psychologist, he trained in natural history and philosophy. He received a doctorate in 1918 from the University of Neuchatel. He then undertook post-doctoral training.
He became more interested in psychology while listening to children talk. He wondered how they learned, and came up with a theory that they go through stages where they become ready for certain kinds of learning.
By using Piaget’s theory, educators focus on their students as learners, this allows teachers to view students as individual learners who add new concepts to prior knowledge to construct, or build, understanding for themselves. They nourish and support learners’ curiosity. They also involve learners’ emotions and create a learning environment in which students feel safe.
He was hired by Théodore Simon to standardize psychometric measures for use with French children in 1919.
Piaget is the most influential developmental psychologist to date, influencing not only the work of Lev Vygotsky and of Lawrence Kohlberg but whole generations of eminent academics.
In 1979 he was awarded the Balzan Prize for Social and Political Sciences. He died in 1980 and was buried with his family in an unmarked grave in the Cimetière des Rois (Cemetery of Kings) in Geneva. This was as per his request.
Images for kids
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Bust of Jean Piaget in the Parc des Bastions, Geneva
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Photo of the Jean Piaget Foundation with Pierre Bovet (1878–1965) first row (with large beard) and Jean Piaget (1896–1980) first row (on the right, with glasses) in front of the Rousseau Institute (Geneva), 1925
