Assessment Post 3: Bruner

Bruner similar to Vygotsky and Piaget has been influential to cognitive development and its links to social interaction.
Similar to Piaget, Bruner developed three stages of cognitive growth:
The enactive stage: Children use objects e.g. hold, move, touch etc.

The iconic stage: Uses images but not as yet language. Recognises things without being about to give an account of the concept.

The symbolic stage: Develop understanding through symbols. This involves more abstract concepts such as language and mathematics.

Marsh, Colin., Becoming a Teaching, 3rd Ed. Pearson Prentice Hall, Frenchs Forest, NSW, Australia, 2004.
http://tip.psychology.org/bruner.html


As a teacher it is critical for me to provide different opportunities and choices to students within their learning. As a result it is important for me to use a variety of teaching methods e.g. refer to Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences. Using Burner’s three stages as a teacher I must teach with the iconic stage as well as the symbolic. A combination will not only make the concept clearer but make the lesson more engaging.

http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/methods/instrctn/in5lk2-4.htm