Jerry Bruner: The Oxford’s Years and Beyond

Abstract

These brief notes about Jerry Bruner range over a period of many years, from our first meeting when I was a doctoral student in his research group at the University of Oxford, to his most recent visits to Spain and Portugal. They illustrate some of the points that, in my view, represent his most important contributions to psychology and education. They include both autobiographical memories and an expression of my deep appreciation of his work. Over forty years of teaching and friendship the boundaries between his thinking and mine have sometimes become erased. I mention his relationship to, and parallelism with, two other giants of developmental psychology and education: Piaget and Vygotsky. I conclude with his recent reflection on education and the relationship between children’s play and epistemology.

Translated by J. Churcher (Note by the Author: In this instance, ‘translation’ includes a generous conversation and exchange of ideas which has clarified my own thinking. This conversation began when we both were part of Jerry’s team in Oxford, and it has continued without interruption these more than 40 years. JL).