Vygotskian Theories

PSY 2220
Introducing Vygotsky

Lev Vygotsky

Graduated from the University of Moscow in

1917

Russian government originally rejected his

ideas
Vygotskys Sociocultural Theory

Interaction creates cognitive

growth

Culturally relevant information

is more easily understood
Vygotskys Underlying Principles

The Vygotskian framework:

Children create knowledge

Social environment is crucial
Learning leads to development
Mental development relies on
language
Zone of Proximal Development

Also known as ZPD

Difference between what a person knows

individually vs. what they understand
when assisted
Integrating ZPD
Teachers must discover what
students:
Cant do

Can do with assistance

Can do individually
Integrating ZPD

Discover mastery level of students

Have students do group work

Relate new concepts to previously mastered concepts

Integrating ZPD
Focus more on what students can solve with
assistance, not what they can solve
independently

Vygotsky believed ZPD showed potential

for achievement more accurately than
testing
Scaffolding

Used to help an individual understand the steps of a task in their ZPD

Integrating Scaffolding

Break up learning into steps

Provide demonstrations

Connect to personal
experiences
Integrating Scaffolding
Vygotsky High School Integration
Know concepts mastered in previous grades and concepts that are required
by current grade
Sequence concepts so they build off one another

Teach within ZPD of students, but at a challenging level

Practice multiple times with scaffolding, then slowly remove
Vygotsky High School Integration

Requires aiding learners in

recall of concepts presented
without context
Teachers who use ZPD and
scaffolding can increase the
amount of knowledge students
create
Comparing Vygotsky and Piaget
Vygotsky
Environment most important to
development
Development depends on culture
Learning leads to development
Piaget
Self is most important to
development
Development is universal
Development leads to learning

Both
People are active learners
Development decreases with age
Egocentric, self guiding speech is
important to development
Vygotsky vs Piaget Video
Sources
Gallagher, C. (1999, May). Lev Semyonovich Vygotsky. Retrieved February 06, 2017, from
http://www.muskingum.edu/~psych/psycweb/history/vygotsky.htm

McLeod, S. (2010). Zone of Proximal Development. Retrieved February 06, 2017, from
http://www.simplypsychology.org/Zone-of-Proximal-Development.html

Coffey, H. (2009). Zone of proximal development. Retrieved February 06, 2017, from http://www.learnnc.org/lp/pages/5075

Farr, T. (2014, June 18). An Introduction to Using Vygotsky Scaffolding in the Classroom. Retrieved February 06, 2017, from
https://blog.udemy.com/vygotsky-scaffolding/
Alber, R. (2011, May 24). 6 Scaffolding Strategies to Use With Your Students. Retrieved February 06, 2017, from
https://www.edutopia.org/blog/scaffolding-lessons-six-strategies-rebecca-alber

Winkler, S. (2010, January 08). What is the zone of proximal development? Retrieved February 06, 2017, from
http://lifestyle.howstuffworks.com/family/parenting/child-development/zone-proximal2.htm
Sources
Hurst, M. (2010). Differences between Piaget & Vygotsky's Cognitive Development Theories. Retrieved February 06, 2017, from
http://study.com/academy/lesson/differences-between-piaget-vygotskys-cognitive-development-theories.html

University of Iowa College of Education. (2004, October 28). Comparing Piaget and Vygotsky. Retrieved February 06, 2017, from
http://www2.education.uiowa.edu/html/eportfolio/tep/07p075folder/Piaget_Vygotsky.htm

Owens, J. (2011, September 19). Vygotsky Vs. Piaget. Retrieved February 06, 2017, from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Axi7xctulbM&spfreload=5

Arnett, J. J. (2013). Adolescence and emerging adulthood: A cultural approach (5th ed.). Boston: Pearson.