Vygotsky - General Theory

Question 1

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Answer 1

INTRO

• social constructionist who placed emphasis on social interaction/culture
• proposed that children are born with elementary mental functions that are transformed into higher mental functions through the influence of cultural and social contexts
• culture is suggested to provide the infant with intellectual tools such as language that enables them to use these functions in an adaptive manner
• this cog growth is further facilitated by social interactions with other, especially adults. As the child begins in the ZPD where they cannot complete many tasks alone as they are too complex and they are guided by a more skilled partner until they internalise the techniques taught

Question 2

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Answer 2

EMPIRICAL SUPPORT

• FREUND (1990) children had to decided where to polder furniture in dolls house. Some children were allowed to play with their mother before attempting it alone whilst others worked by themselves.

Findings showed those who previously worked with mother showed greatest improvement and reached higher level of difficulty.

Suggested that guided learning led to greater understanding and cog grower than working alone

• beyond this research, little scientific evidence to support or contradict concepts described (Thomas 2000) and this more research is needed

Question 3

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Answer 3

OVEREMPHASIS OF SOCIAL CONTEXT

• rests onassumptions that the learner is an extrovert which is arguably the reflection of vygotsky himself
• however if social influence was all that was needed to advance cog dev then learning would occur much faster than it does.
• suggested to be influenced by Marxist theory where development of thought processes linked to struggles of society
• learning theory biased and can’t be generalised beyond this era

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Question 4

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Answer 4

Furthermore the concept of vygotskys claims that culture severely influences cognitive growth has been supported by cross cultural research.

For example, GREDLER (1992) pointed to the primitive counting system using in papa New Guinea which demonstrated how culture can limit cog growth. Counting is done by starting on the thumb of one hand and going up the arm and down to the other fingers ending at 29. This system makes it difficult to add and subtract large numbers.

This acts as a limiting factor for development in this culture and showcasing the tools that a culture provides to the child to enable processing of cognitive functions.

Question 5

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Answer 5

HIGH PRACTICAL APPLICATION

• main aim to ensure scaffolding is employed in all learning systems to enable child to access the challenge
• teaching should involve leading questioning and direct the child to succeed in undertaking challenging task rather than offer sentence starter/gap fill approach
• furthermore GOKHALE found that students who participated in collaborative learning performed better in critical thinkin greats than those who studied individually