Socio-cultural theory of cognitive development: lev vygotsky

• Lev Semenovich Vygotsky - ideas about language and culture.
• Socio-cultural theory of cognitive development - influence the word has on individual development. established this theory of learning believing that everything greatly influences an individual's cognitive development.
• zone of proximal development ZPD - ability of a learner to extend beyond their own innate ability through interaction of others in their enviroment
• scaffolding - support to bridge the gap between what a learner can do and what they can't do independently.
• cultural tools - include language, writing systems, mathematical symbols, and other cultural practices that influence how people think, communicate, and solve problems
• collaborative learning - encourage group activities and projects to promote social interactions
• peer interaction- opportunities for peer teaching and support leveraging the expertise of more knowledgeable peers
• individual instruction - students have unique ZPD's and progression rates
• assessment and evaluation - design assessment to measure memorization and student's ability to apply skills within their ZPD
• criticism and controversies

  • overemphasis on social interaction
  • cultural bias
  • lack of clarity in ZPD measurement
  • insufficient attention to individual differences
• vygotsky - revolutionary in psychology and education
• ZPD x Scaffolding = effective learning
• cultural tools - shape how we think
• education - promotes collaboration and individualized learning