Vygotsky's Stages of Intellectual Development

Question 1

Similarites of Piaget and Vygotsky

Answer 1

1. View of importance of others - more knowledgeable in children development
2. Children’s reasoning abilities develop in particular sequence - abilities are qualitatively different at different ages

Question 2

Differences of Piaget and Vygotsky

Answer 2

1. Vygotsky argued that some children can acquire some concepts individually - mechanism of thinking and learning as a result of interaction
2. Vygotsky saw language as an important part of cognitive development

Question 3

Zone of Proximal Development

Answer 3

• Child’s current level of development and what they can potentially do with the right help from an expert
• Expert assistance allows a child to cross the ZPD and understanding as much of a situation as possible
• Children develop a more advanced understanding of a situation

Question 4

Mental Functions

Answer 4

• Vygotsky claimed that infants are born with basic material/abilities for intellectual development, vygotsky called these; perception and memory

Question 5

Cultural Differences

Answer 5

• Reasoning abilities are acquired via contact with those around us
• There will be cultural differences in cognitive development
• Children pick up mental tools that are most important in life

Question 6

Language

Answer 6

• The semiotic system - maths symbols are important (signs and symbols from a particular culture)
• Used to transmit culture from expert to child

Question 7

Scaffolding

Answer 7

Scaffolding = process of helping a learner cross the ZPD and advance as much as they can

Wood, Bruner and Ross
- Particular strategies that experts use
- As a learner crosses the ZPD the level of help declines from 5 to 1

5. Demonstration
6. Preparation for child
7. Indication of materials
8. Specific Verbal instructions
9. General prompts