Read the discussion of theories proposed by Piaget, Vygotsky, and Erikson. Respond to the following:

• Discuss why it is important for an educational psychologist or trainer to understand developmental theories? How exactly do they come into play in course development and understanding the limitations of learners? Provide examples.

• Vygotsky believed that through both informal conversations and formal schooling, adults convey to children the ways in which their culture interprets and responds to the world. With this in mind, give examples, from your own personal experiences, of how parents and teachers have impacted your own interpretations and reactions to the world in both a positive and negative way.
• Briefly contrast Piaget’s theory of cognitive development with Vygotsky’s theory of cognitive development. Which has more practical applications in your area of work (or future work)? Describe a scenario in which you would apply the concepts of either theory.
• Erikson proposed that most people achieve a sense of identity by the end of adolescence, but more recent research suggests that in Western cultures, only a small minority of teenagers have even begun to think seriously about the eventual role they will play in society. With this in mind, consider the fact that many parents and teachers expect teenagers to know in high school what they would want to study. How might this expectation influence attrition rates in college? In your opinion, what can parents, teachers, and counselors do to promote identity achievement?