Unit 2 - Vygotsky's Sociocultural Theory Flashcards
What is Vygotsky’s theory called?
Sociocultural theory
What did Vygotsky theorise?
highlighted the role of social interactions and cultural tools in shaping cognitive development
What is the zone of proximal development?
The gap between what a child knows and what a child could know with support and encouragement
The way in which children’s cognition develops through adult interaction
What is scaffolding?
Scaffolding is a teaching method where learners work with someone who has a better understanding of the material, sets a foundation/base for learners to build upon and expand their learning
What are the benefits of scaffolding?
It helps students learn more by working with people who have broader knowledge
Scaffolding involves providing support structures to help students master skills just beyond their current level
Collaborative and cooperative learning are encourage based on Vygotsky’s ideas
How does Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory link to educational practice?
His work has had significant influence on early years settings
Observe and assess children in order to work out their next steps
Encourage mixed age groups and mentoring so younger ones can learn from older ones
Organise groups of children and young people working together
What theorists is Vygotsky similar to?
Similar to Bowlby and Bandura as they all emphasise the critical role of social interactions and relationships in shaping development
Also similar to Bruner as they both view learners as actively constructing knowledge based on their prior experiences and social context
What are the criticisms of Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory?
It does not account for a precise picture of a child’s learning needs, a child’s present capability level, or a child’s motivational influences
Children and young people may not make sufficient progress due to lack of formal instruction
These approaches require higher adult-child ratios than is possible in many education settings
What is a social constructivist approach?
Sees children as active learners and construct their thinking as a result of experiences
What type of approach does Vygotsky have?
Social constructivist approach
