Lev Vygotsky (1896-1934) was a pioneering Russian psychologist known for his sociocultural theory of cognitive development. Born in Orsha, Belarus, Vygotsky made significant contributions to developmental psychology, education, and the understanding of human cultural and bio-social development. Despite his short life, his work has had a profound impact on educational psychology worldwide.
Welcome to our interactive exploration of Lev Vygotsky's groundbreaking theory of social development in education and psychology!
The Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) is the difference between what a learner can do without help and what they can do with guidance and encouragement from a skilled partner. 🤝
Vygotsky believed that social interaction plays a fundamental role in the process of cognitive development. In other words, we learn through our interactions and communications with others. 👥➡️🧠
Scaffolding refers to the support given during the learning process which is tailored to the needs of the student with the intention of helping the student achieve their learning goals. 📚🔨
Vygotsky emphasized the role of cultural tools (like language, symbols, and artifacts) in shaping cognitive development. These tools are internalized to form higher-level thinking skills. 🗣️➡️💭
Think about a skill you're currently learning. Identify:
This will help you understand your own Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) for this skill!
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