Theory of Cognitive Development- Lev Vygotsky

Question 1

What are the 3 themes that interrelate in learning?

Answer 1

Culture
Language
Community

culture is essential to learning, language is essential to culture, and learners learn how to think by the influence of their community

Vygotsky recognized how languages link communities together, and that the culture of the adults in the community influences what the children learn. Culture puts pressure on how parents raise their children, which affects how children behave in certain situations. When learners go to school or in other ways engage with people in their community, they pick up on the attitudes and opinions of the people around them. The biases, attitudes, and behaviors of the culture play out in how children learn and develop.

Question 2

3 types of speech

Answer 2

external
egocentric
inner speech

Question 3

External speech

Answer 3

birth to age 3
when babies learn through interactions from their caregivers. Babies learn how to share what they need and also learn that they can earn approval and disapproval from their caregivers. A baby might learn that saying “please” makes his parents more likely to give him what he wants.

Question 4

Egocentric speech

Answer 4

ages 3 to 7
It focuses on an egocentric child using the social aspect of thinking out loud to solve problems and then remember them for next time. When preschoolers all have different ideas for a game, but they work together to find something they can all play together, they are demonstrating egocentric speech.

Question 5

Inner speech

Answer 5

when older children up to adult age can essentially have two modes for speech: an inner conversation where they talk to themselves and a verbal conversation. An adult who has the reached inner speech does not need to think out loud as they make decisions; they basically talk to themselves and process ideas before they need to speak. For example, a student might use inner speech to remind herself to study for her math test, but use verbal speech to ask the teacher to define a mathematical term.

Question 6

Zone of Proximal Development

Answer 6

The goal is that the student begins with a specific skill or task just out of reach, but with the support of a More Knowledgeable Other (MKO) they will master the skill. The More Knowledgeable Other can be anyone who can lead the learner in the new skill, from a parent to an older sibling or even a neighbor. In this case, the word “proximal” refers to what is close, but just out of reach, of the learner without help. In the ZPD, the learner has the potential to master a skill or something new but needs some outside help.

Question 7

What are the 2 avenues of learning?

Answer 7

things that a person can teach and master themselves

things that are out of reach for the learner by themselves (and must be taught by someone else)

Question 8

Scaffolding

Answer 8

how the more knowledgeable other tailors supports to meet the needs of the leaners

Question 9

Fading

Answer 9

The more knowledgeable other reduces the level of support needed was the learner demonstrates they are mastering the skill

Question 10

Vygotsky similarities to Piaget

Answer 10

Piaget and Vygotsky’s theories both cover how human development is affected by the communities around each individual, but there are sharp contrasts between the two theories

Question 11

Vygotsky differences to Piaget

Answer 11

Vygotsky
Language development occurs in broad stages.

Learning is strongly shaped by the language and culture the learner experiences.

Learning happens in collaborating and sharing ideas and experiences.

Thought and language are two separate processes that come together as the learner reaches the egocentric stage. Cognitive development occurs when the learner internalizes language.

Question 12

Autonomous speech

Answer 12

At around 12 months of age, the child begins to invent words. The child’s invented syllables are an effort to communicate with adults; therefore, a child’s use of the word ‘da’ for daddy, represents the autonomous speech stage.

Question 13

According to Vygotsky, which of the following is true about the acquisition of meaning and understanding?

a. Meaning is acquired as people interact.
b. Meaning is acquired through behavioral reinforcement.
c. Meaning is acquired in a passive, reflective manner.
d. Meaning is acquired individually through scaffolding.

Answer 13

A

Question 14

According to Vygotsky, a child’s use of the word ‘da’ for daddy is indicative of which stage of speech development?

a. Autonomous speech
b. Egocentric speech
c. Self-talk
d. Preintellectual speech

Answer 14

A

Question 15

According to Vygotsky, what is the process of students constructing an internal representation of processes they use in social contexts and using them independently?

a. Scaffolding
b. Accommodation
c. Internalization
d. Naive psychology

Answer 15

C

Question 16

4 Stages of Speech Development

Answer 16

Preintellectual
Autonomous
Naïve Psychology
Communicative and Egocentric Speech

Question 17

Preintellectual Speech

Answer 17

This is the first major stage of speech development. This begins with the infant’s cry, which expresses, for example, hunger or discomfort. Soon, the infant begins babbling, laughing and gesturing. These developments function as a means of social contact.

Question 18

Naïve psychology

Answer 18

his stage of speech occurs between 18 and 24 months when the child first begins to use adult words. The child learns that objects are referred to by name. As the child begins to name things, connections develop between words and objects. During this period, the young child’s first expression is a simple word. For example, when the young child says ‘Dada!’ it may mean ‘Daddy, pick me up or’ ‘Daddy, I’m hungry’, and so on. As the child’s thoughts become differentiated, she can formulate simple requests in the form of short and simple sentences.

Question 19

Communicative and Egocentric Speech

Answer 19

indicated in the description of naïve psychology, the child between 18 and 24 months begins to use adult words and rapidly expand his or her vocabulary. Subsequently, at about age three, the child’s speech splits into two types of speech: communicative and egocentric. Communicative, or also referred to as external speech, is for others and the child at age three is able to use simple sentences, such as ‘I want milk.’ In contrast, egocentric speech is for oneself.