Foundation Perspectives of Education Notes:

B.F. Skinner—developed behavioral theory (focused on outward behavior that suggested

students could be successfully trained and conditioned to learn just about anything a teacher

desired)

Lev Vygotsky—developed social development theory in the late 1800’s that suggested social

interaction among children plays a major role in cognitive development

Robert Havighurst—identified specific development tasks that believes children must master if

they are to develop normally.

Jean Piaget—created a theory of cognitive development and believed that children learn facts,

concepts, and principles in four major stages. The four stages are sensorimotor, preoperational,

concrete operations, and formal operations.

Jerome Bruner—postulated a series of developmental steps or stages that he believes children

encounter as they mature. These involve action, imagery, and symbolism.

Benjamin Bloom—author of Taxonomy of Educational Objectives. He believes that one can

predict learning outcomes by assessing three factors: cognitive entry behaviors of a student

(mastered prerequisite skills), effective entry characteristics (student’s interest in learning

material), the quality of instruction (degree to which the instruction offered is appropriate for the

learner)

Fredrick Douglas—firmly believed that if he devoted all his efforts to improving vocational

education, he could greatly improve the plight of the African Americans

Booker T. Washington—was one of the early African American educators who contributed

immensely to the development of education in the United States. He realized African American

children desperately needed an education to compete in society. Founded Tuskegee Institute in

1880, provided basic industrial education & wide range college curriculum.

Maria Montessori—she developed her own theory and methods of education young children.

Her methods utilized child-size school furniture and specially designed learning materials. She

emphasized independent work by children under the guidance of a trained teacher. Private

Montessori schools still thrive in the United States today.

Ella Flagg Young—she earned a doctorate at the age of 50 under John Dewey, Ella became

superintendent of the Chicago Public School system in 1909. She was also elected the first

female president of the male dominated National Education Association. Improved teacher

training, recognition of teaching as a profession, and broadened teacher responsibility.

Foundation Perspectives of Education Notes

Foundational Perspectives of Education (EDUC 2210)