Vygotsky

Question 1

what is the aim of Vygotsky with regards to development of children?

Answer 1

Development must be understood in - and cannot be dissociated from- its social, cultural, and historical context

Question 2

What are the four mechanisms of change?

Answer 2

Language, social interaction, cultural context, and play

Question 3

the role of language (4)

Answer 3

1. most powerful mechanism of change
2. primary form of interaction, allows knowledge to be exchanged
3. permits dialogue with more knowledgeable people
4. private speech serves role of directing childs actions

Question 4

Define the zone of proximal development

Answer 4

1) The distance between what a child can accomplish independently and what a child can accomplish with the help of a peer.

Question 5

what is scaffolding?

Answer 5

i. This concept refers to the method of teaching where a more experienced peer adjusts the level of help need for a child to learn a new task, relative to the child’s level of performance. The goal is to provide just enough help that the child could then do the task independently

Question 6

where do the most productive social interactions occur in children, which also is the same place learning occurs?

Answer 6

In the zone of proximal development

Question 7

Define guided participation

Answer 7

the process by which children become more competent by participating in everyday, cultural activities under the guidance of more knowledgeable peers

Question 8

what does cultural contexts determine?

Answer 8

1. determines language, beliefs, values, and norms
2. impacts what a child will learn, based on where they live
3. culture gives different tools to people

Question 9

what must be considered when seeking to evaluate cognitive capacity of children in different parts of the word?

Answer 9

cultural impact

Question 10

what are tools

Answer 10

i. Defined as symbolic cultural artifacts that enable children to master psychological functions like memory, perception and attention appropriate to their cultures
ii. Their use is learned via caregivers and instructors
iii. The older the child, the more sophisticated the tool is that they learn, example addition to algebra

Question 11

what does play do for children

Answer 11

sets the stage for learning

Question 12

what does play teach children about?

Answer 12

cultural tools, social skills and norms, understanding via trial and error

Question 13

what are the three types of play?

Answer 13

1. playing with objects
2. pretend play
3. joint play

Question 14

is there any evidence for furtherance of development by playing with objects?

Answer 14

evidence is mixed, cultural context is very important

Question 15

the use of pretend play

Answer 15

mixed views on whether it is beneficial, suggested to just interact with the kid while it is going on

Question 16

the use of joint play

Answer 16

sets the stage for scaffolding

Question 17

Compare Piaget’s and Vygotsky’s views on private speech

Answer 17

1. Piaget saw it as something that was a by product that would eventually die out
   
   2. Vygotsky saw it as crucial, and that we just internalize it as we get older

Question 18

4 Pros of vygotsky’s theory

Answer 18

1. Theory postulates mechanisms that remain throughout the lifetime
2. culture is taken into account
3. scaffolding has been proven to be an effective learning technique
4. collaboration leads to deeper knowledge of a subject

Question 19

5 cons of vygotsky

Answer 19

1. does not take into account children who are not social and who may therefore not benefit from sociocultural mechanisms
2. very little research
3. theoretical principles are too general
4. peers and adults not always good teachers
   learners not always willing to move from the ZPD