Developmental psychology took an important step forward by turning its focus from teaching to learning. Jean Piaget and others showed that children go through certain stages of cognitive growth, and undergo a different exploratory process in each stage. The goal of the teacher is not to teach facts or knowledge, but rather to encourage learning. In addition, the role of the educator is to provide opportunities for learners to engage in active experiences that promote learning. Finally, psychologists demonstrated that learners learn best through direct experience, not simply by reading about things, like a system’s mundane book learning.
These concepts were introduced into curricula throughout Europe and America during the early 1900s, leading to a dramatic shift in how children learn. The curriculum was reworked to emphasize developmental stages, rather than focusing on the memorization of facts. Even so, traditional standards of rote learning continue to manifest through conservative educationalists in institutes, however, depending on a nation’s approach to education, psychologists might advise policymakers on policy.
