Vygotsky theory

• Vygotsky theory of cognitive development also known as the social interactions theory because he focuses on the role of social interaction and culture in cognitive development .
• According to Vygotsky, a child internalises the understanding of other experts: MKO like parents ,teachers other children ,leading to cognitive development.
•  Role of culture and language social interaction with people from our culture allows us to see the problem solving skills and then internalise it ,these skills include reasoning and language. Once these tools have been acquired allowing us to understand how the world works they go on to play a critical role in our cognitive development
• Language allows us to shift from basic mental functions to -> higher mental functions eg reasoning.

  first language facilitates thoughts through:

  external monologues -> internal speech-> internal thought. Therefore language has a key role in cognitive development. 
• Learning takes place between what a child currently understands by themselves-> experts help ,this is zpd. Expert assistance and scaffolding allows a child to cross the zpd to achieve a higher level of understanding.  Vygotszky said higher mental function is only acquired through interacting with experts.
• Scaffolding

  Any support framework an expert provides to a child to enable them to cross the zpd.

  Allows the child to learn and then should be withdrawn to help the child perform independently and facilitate cognitive development.
• Bruner, Wood and Ross- five aspects of scaffolding. 

  1. Get a child to focus on the task to start solving it.

  b) Engage and retain a child's attention on the task.

  c) Encourage the child to maintain effort and focus.

  d) Highlight the most critical features of the task clearly for the child.

  e) Demonstrate for the child how to perform the task.