Vygotskys Theory of Cognitive Development Lev Vygotsky 1896

Vygotsky’s Theory of Cognitive Development

Lev Vygotsky (1896– 1934) • Russian psychologist • Worked in post-revolutionary Soviet Union to rebuild psychology along Marxist lines • Applied psych. to problems confronting the new state, especially in the field of ed psych. • Worked to create theories of cognitive development

…. more Vygotsky n n Conducted research & writing during the same time as Piaget (1920’s & 1930’s) His writings were banned in the Soviet Union in 1936 & only became available in the west in the 1960’s q n His work became highly influential. He died of tuberculosis at the age of 38.

Vygotsky & Stalin n For 20 years after his death, it was forbidden to discuss, disseminate or reprint any of his writings His works could be read only in a single library in Moscow by special permission of the secret police After Stalin’s death, his writings were rediscovered

Vygotsky Continued n Different than Piaget’s image of the individual constructing understanding alone q n Everything is social Vygotsky saw cognitive development as depending more on interactions with people & tools in the child’s world. q q Tools are real: pens, paper, computers; or Tools are symbols: language, math systems, signs

The Big Ideas… n Explained complex learning through Guided Participation. q q q Explained things that are taught rather than discovered (reading, writing etc. ) a way to “share thinking load” Helping a novice accomplish a complex task Assistance can be physical or mental & come from adults or peers Scaffolding: where the more knowledgeable other provides some type of structure.

The Big Ideas… n Vygotsky developed theory of the Zone of proximal development (ZPD) q q The distance between where a learner is at developmentally on their own & where a learner could be with the help of a more knowledgeable other. A more knowledgeable other can be an adult or a peer, helping a learner in this way is to scaffold their learning.

Examples of Guided Participation n A mother sitting with her toddler singing, “Baa, baa black sheep have you any wool, yes sir …. ” at this point the mother pauses and the child sings loudly, “THREE BAGS FULL!”. q How is this guided participation?

Examples of Guided Participation n A 6 -year old lost a toy & asks her father for help. The father asks her where she last saw the toy; the child says , “I can’t remember. ” He asks a series of questions – “Did you have it in your room? Outside? ” To each question the child answers “No”. When he asks, “In the car? ”, she says “I think so” and finds the toy in the car. q In this story, who found the toy?

Examples of Guided Participation n Think back to your days of driver’s ed. and driving around with your parents and your temporary driver’s license. q In what ways did your parent or driving instructor provide guided participation for you?

Vygotsky and Schools n Emphasized social learning q We can often complete harder tasks with someone else than we could alone. n n Zone of Proximal Development q n Collaborative learning, group presentations, group work The teacher considers how much scaffolding to give a student to help them learn. A push for “authentic learning”. q Learning is tied to the context it is in.

Motivation & Vygotsky n This view emphasizes how people’s identities are formed by their participation in a group q q Students can be motivated to learn by participating in communities where learning is valued Ex: Children want to learn to read & write to become members of the “literary club”, to be able to participate and interact with the written world

Vygotsky’s Words… n “It is through others that we become ourselves” q n All learning is social “What a child can do in co-operation today he can do alone tomorrow” q Guided participation, ZPD, scaffolding