Vygotsky

Question 1

What is the relationship between learning and development?

Answer 1

learning can lead development and vice versa

Question 2

What is the Zone of Proximal Development?

Answer 2

the area between independent performance and assisted performance

Question 3

What approach does Vygotsky take in his theory of development?

Answer 3

socio-historic

Question 4

Explain cultural mediation

Answer 4

specific knowledge gained by children through social interactions represent the shared knowledge of a culture

Question 5

Explain the process of internalization (2)

Answer 5

1. knowing how - mastering a skill through activities within society
2. appropriation - taking a tool and making it your own

Question 6

How does Vygotsky’s view of learning and development differ from other theorists? (2)

Answer 6

unlike Piaget - he doesn’t put learning as subordinate to development

unlike Watson - he doesn’t see development as synonymous with learning

Question 7

Explain Vygotsky’s socio-historical theory of cognitive development

Answer 7

cognitive development is a shift from:
primitive mental functions to higher psychological functions
- as a result of human interaction