Sociocultural theory

Microsystem

The child’s immediate environment (ex: family, peers)

Mesosystem

The interraction between the child’s immediate environments (ex: parent-teacher interractions)

Exosystem

People outside the child’s immediate environment that affect their microsystem (ex: parents’ workplace, govt.)

Macrosystem

Larger external factors such as cultural beliefs and policy changes (ex: laws, gender roles)

Chronosystem

The influence of the passing of time on a learner’s environment (ex: introducing new tools, teachers changing teaching methods)

Zone of proximal development

The range of tasks that a learner can perform without an MKO — the “gap” between tasks they can and can’t do by themselves.

Scaffolding

The MKO providing and gradually removing support as the learner masters the task

Tools

Physical and cognitive aids that help a child learn and face problems

Social speech

The most primitive form of speech used by young children to communicate their needs

Private speech/self-talk

The stage of speech when toddlers begin to talk out loud to themselves to guide their actions

Inner monologue

A non-verbalised monologue which children use to direct their own behaviours — the stage after private speech