Foundation Degree – Supporting Teaching and Learning Teaching and Learning Unit - Vygotsky

SOCIO-CULTURAL THEORY Children’s private speech More experiences the richer their world – life long learning Zone of proximal development (ZPD) Scaffolding Reciprocal teaching

VYGOTSKY FACTS More Competent peers – as well as – adults can aid children’s development. Children unable to solve a problem or tackle a task will often turn to a more knowledgeable other for help “What a child can do with assistance today – she will be able to do by herself tomorrow” (Vygotsky, 1978)

VYGOTSKY FACTS Vygotsky’s ideas about learning and development emphasise the importance of social interaction of more capable peers as well as adults as a means to guide children to developmental levels they might not independently attain.

VYGOTSKY FACTS The adult is seen as ‘scaffolding’ the child’s learning – facilitating planning and helping the child to understand the sort of problem it is.

VYGOTSKY FACTS Crook (1991) extends the collaborative learning aspect of Vygotsky’s ZPD from the idea that two heads are better than one where the exchange is with a computer – resembling the kind of ‘social’ encounter – highlighting the strong social quality of the educational experience.

UTILISING VYGOTSKY’S THEORY Effective child development – expose children to a variety of social situations Introduce children to people, ideas and concepts Guiding children to look for answers by imitating, listening and team work.