Vygotskian principles on the ZPD and scaffolding - Open University
嚜燕age 1 of 2
Vygotskian principles on the ZPD and scaffolding
The zone of proximal development ( ZPD), is best understood as the difference between what a
learner can do without help and what he or she can do with help. The concept was developed by
Soviet psychologist and social constructivist Lev Vygotsky (1896 每 1934).
Vygotsky stated that a child follows an adult's example and gradually develops the ability to do
certain tasks without help or assistance. Vygotsky's definition of ZPD presents it as the distance
between the actual developmental level as determined by independent problem solving and the
level of potential development as determined through problem solving under adult guidance, or in
collaboration with more capable peers (L.S. Vygotsky: Mind in Society: Development of Higher
Psychological Processes)
Vygotsky among other educational professionals believes the role of education to be to provide
children with experiences which are in their ZPD, thereby encouraging and advancing their
individual learnin. (Berk, L & Winsler, A. (1995). "Vygotsky: His life and works" and "Vygotsky's
approach to development". In Scaffolding children's learning: Vygotsky and early childhood
learning. Natl. Assoc for Educ. Of Young Children.)
The concept of scaffolding is closely related to the ZPD and was developed by other theorists
applying Vygotsky's ZPD to educational contexts. Scaffolding is a process through which a teacher
or more competent peer gives aid to the student in her/his ZPD as necessary, and tapers off this
aid as it becomes unnecessary, much as a scaffold is removed from a building during construction.
"Scaffolding refers to the way the adult guides the child's learning via focused questions and
positive interactions." (Balaban, N. (1995). "Seeing the Child, Knowing the Person." In Ayers, W. To
Become a Teacher. Teachers College Press. p. 52)
How Vygotsky Impacts Learning:
Curriculum每Since children learn much through interaction, curricula should be designed to
emphasize interaction between learners and learning tasks.
Instruction每With appropriate adult help, children can often perform tasks that they are incapable
of completing on their own. With this in mind, scaffolding每where the adult continually adjusts the
level of his or her help in response to the child*s level of performance每is an effective form of
teaching. Scaffolding not only produces immediate results, but also instills the skills necessary for
independent problem solving in the future.
Assessment每Assessment methods must take into account the zone of proximal development.
What children can do on their own is their level of actual development and what they can do with
help is their level of potential development. Two children might have the same level of actual
development, but given the appropriate help from an adult, one might be able to solve many
more problems than the other. Assessment methods must target both the level of actual
development and the level of potential development.
Reading
Lev Vygotsky, L.S. (1962). Thought and language. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. (Original work
published 1934)
Vygotskian principles on the ZPD and scaffolding
Jul-10
Page 2 of 2
Vygotsky, L.S. (1978). Mind in Society: The development of higher psychological processes.
Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Vygotskian principles on the ZPD and scaffolding
Jul-10
................
................
In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.
To fulfill the demand for quickly locating and searching documents.
It is intelligent file search solution for home and business.
Related download
- vygotskian principles on the zpd and scaffolding open university
- developmental psychology incorporating piaget s and vygotsky s
- lev vygotsky play and its role in the mental development of the child
- lev vygotsky revolutionary scientist university of california san diego
- vygotsky s zone of proximal development instructional ed
- lev s vygotsky
- an overview of the life central concepts including classroom ed
- vygotsky lev university of toronto
- international education journal issn 1443 1475 eric
- a sociocultural perspectiv ed
Related searches
- founding principles of the constitution
- open university sri lanka exam
- ethical principles in the workplace
- 28 principles of the founding fathers
- founding principles of the nation
- founding principles of the usa
- fundamental principles of the constitution
- 7 principles of the constitution
- free open university courses online
- open university nawala sri lanka
- open university of sri lanka nawala courses
- open university sri lanka degrees