Lev Vygotsky

What did Vygotsky’s Scaffolding theory place emphasis on and what did he theorise?

Vygotsky’s scaffolding theory of CLA places more emphasis on how social connections develop language development. He theorised that humans use tools that develop from a culture, such as speech and writing, to mediate their social environments. Initially, children develop these tools to serve solely as social functions and ways to communicate their needs.

What three ideas did he formulate?

Social interaction, the More Knowledgeable Other (MKO) and the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD).

What did Vygotsky say about social interaction?

Vygotsky believed that social learning anticipated development: firstly between other people (interpsychological), and then within the child (intrapsychological). He believed that young children are curious and actively involved in their own learning and the discovery of new development and understandings.

What did Vygotsky say about MKOs?

The MKO refers to someone who has a more advanced ability level or better understanding or knowledge concerning a particular skill; these can include adults, teachers and even computers. However, children and young people may have more knowledge about particular types of technology, or an aspect of popular culture.

What did Vygotsky say about the ZPD?

This concept relates to the difference between what the child can achieve independently, and what they can achieve with the help and guidance of a skilled partner. According to Vygotsky, this is where learning occurs. He saw this as the area where the most sensitive guidance or instruction should be given, allowing the child to develop skills that they will then use independently, developing higher mental functions.

What is an example of the ZPD in use?

An example of this is when a child reading a book. They read the words aloud to the MKO, who is following along; they encounter an unfamiliar word and ask for help; instead of simply telling them the word, the MKO shows pictures or asks the child about what they have just read; they will work out the word on their own, and come to an independent understanding of what the word means through understanding of the context; the child will then learn to do this for themselves before asking for help.

What are the two important elements of the ZPD theory?

Scaffolding and reciprocal teaching.

What is scaffolding?

This is where the appropriate assistance is provided by the teacher to help the learner accomplish a task. The teacher can demonstrate how to solve a problem, and then guide the student through the process as they learn, thus avoiding frustration.

What is reciprocal teaching?

This is where an open dialogue between teacher and learner is established in order to take learning to a higher level than a simple question and answer format. This allies with the idea that the only inequality that exists is in terms of the levels of knowledge between teacher and student; authority is shared.