Marc Lewis
Outline of Talk
From Constructivism to Self-Organization: The Dynamics of a Developing Theory
Robbie's neo-Piagetian theory was deeply constructivist in character, and his stairway diagrams were all about putting the pieces together to assemble more elaborate structures. Central conceptual structures were Robbie's ultimate construction, stipulating domain-specific blueprints within the larger architecture of development. However, it was through central conceptual structures that Robbie attempted to come to grips with individual variability and diversity in learning experiences. This preoccupation with individual processes, late in his life, opened the door to a different kind of theory, stressing emergent forms rather than constructed forms. Robbie only got part way through this door, but his instincts, as usual, pointed toward the future of developmental psychology.
|