Includes bibliographical references (p. 263-269) and index.

The social science context -- Conceptual forerunners -- Précis of Piaget's life and work -- Understanding children -- Three modes of learning -- Motivation and development -- Developmental assessment -- Curriculum analysis -- The active classroom.

Abstract: Piagetian psychology offers an approach to education from a child development orientation. Piaget's concepts concerning learning, development and motivation may be especially useful to teachers of children of average ability who achieve below academic norms. The background and social science context of Jean Piaget's life and work is described. His conceptual framework for understanding the child in terms of stages of cognitive development is presented. From these developmental considerations come principles of 3 modes of learning--operative, figurative and connotative--as they apply to school curricula and the achievement of classroom skills. Motivational dynamics extending from the Piagetian philosophy are examined. Classroom applications of this approach provide teachers with methods for assessing children's levels of cognitive development or analyzing curriculum materials. The "Active Classroom" discusses how teachers can implement Piagetian insights in running school classrooms: principles of classroom practice are derived from concepts of child growth and development.