Online Degrees - 20th Century Learning

Like varying personalities and interests, people have different learning styles-ways in which they best comprehend and understand. The study of different learning styles has provided insights for teachers and trainers on the most effective way to reach learners seeking online degrees. But with the increased use of the Internet, and online education, such as online degrees, it has become more beneficial and even crucial for learners to be aware of their own learning styles. Doing this can allow the learner to adapt a form of learning to their best style, but they can also be aware of and try to strengthen their weakest style.

First, however, it's helpful to put the research of education into context. Swiss biologist and developmental psychologist, Jean Piaget has had a profound influence on education in the 20th century. Piaget proposed theories on people's developmental growth stages, from birth to adulthood. According to Piaget, all people learn in four distinct stages. From birth to two years old, children learn in the sensorimotor stage, needing concrete objects. From two to seven years old, children begin to understand symbols and icons in the preoperational stage. From seven to 11 years old, children learn in the concrete operational stage understanding classes, relations, numbers and how to reason. And lastly, from eleven years old on through adulthood, people learn in the formal operation stage where they master thought and abstract concepts.

Piaget's theories had a profound effect on schools as they developed curriculum and sought ways to best reach children as well as more recent psychologists who have based their own study of learning and learning styles on Piaget's theories. Once in the formal operation stage, people master thoughts and abstract concepts in a wide range of ways.