Chapter 5.3 Vygotsky's view of cognitive development: taking culture into accounr

Question 1

Zone of proximal development (ZPD)

Answer 1

according to Vygotsky, the level at which a child can almost, but not fully, perform a task independently, but can do so with the assistance of someone more competent
- ex. a preschooler might not to be able to figure out how to stick a handle of a clay pot alone,, but she can do it with advice from her child-care teacher

Question 2

Scaffolding

Answer 2

the support for learning and problem solving that encourages independence and growth
- ex. parents/teachers providing clues to task completion that fits the child’s level of development and to model behavior that can lead to task completion

Question 3

Culture tools

Answer 3

actual physical items (pencils, paper, calculators, computers) as well as an intellectual and conceptual framework for solving problems

Question 4

Positives about Vygotsky’s contributions

Answer 4

Explain the importance of social interaction in promoting cognitive development, and gives evidence towards cognitive development is shaped in part by cultural factors

Question 5

Negatives about Vygotsky’s contributions

Answer 5

Lack of precision in his conceptualization of cognitive growth, did not explain how basic cognitive processes such as attention and memory develop and how children’s natural cognitive capabilities unfold.