Unit 1: Individual development
3 dot points across 1 inquiry question, in syllabus order. Each dot point has a focused answer, with exam-style questions and worked answers where available.
Topic 2: Cognitive development
Neuroplasticity. Distinguishes developmental from adaptive plasticity, explains the cellular mechanisms of synaptogenesis, pruning, sprouting, rerouting and long-term potentiation, and shows how the brain reorganises function after injury.
Piaget. Explains schemas, assimilation, accommodation and equilibration, works through the four stages (sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, formal operational) with key milestones like object permanence and conservation, and evaluates the theory.
Vygotsky. Explains the sociocultural view that cognition develops through social interaction, defines the zone of proximal development, scaffolding, the more knowledgeable other, private speech and cultural tools, and contrasts the theory with Piaget.