Lev Vygotsky

Lev Vygotsky

Russian psychologist, Lev Vygotsky has hero status for two reasons. First, he was one of the first researchers to recognize the importance of language development and thought. He found that learning was significantly improved by students talking about their learning, and discussing ideas. Secondly, for his ideas on the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD). He referred to this zone as that which contains the tasks that the students can achieve with the assistance of an adult. 

Zone of Promimal Development (ZPD)  

In this learning-centred teaching process, the teacher first models a new strategy in the context of its use and students watch. As this is done, the teacher will talk through what the strategy is, when the strategy should be used, and how to go about using it. The next step is for the teacher to engage in the task with the students helping out. The third step is for students to take over the task of using the strategy with the teacher helping and intervening as needed. Finally, the student independently uses the strategy and if the students experience problems the teacher may have to move back a step by providing help or asking questions about how the students are thinking through the process (metacognition). This process is also referred to as ‘scaffolding’, where the teacher ensures that students have gained understanding of the relevant concepts etc., and then might ask leading questions or encourage students to work through a related but more familiar example first to build confidence. 

Lessons for our lessons 

1. Try to create as many opportunities for students to talk about their learning, the processes and strategies they used to e.g. solve problems or identify links between ideas. Discussions that develop recognition of alternative strategies can bring great benefits. Professor John Hattie concluded that discussion groups who practice by doing and teaching others gave significantly higher recall rates amongst students than passive learning.
2. Use your expertise to scaffold learning where students are working in their ZPD. Encourage them to relate their existing knowledge and strategies (even from other subjects) to help them master the new skills. This is crucial to consider when creating “pits” for our students. Don’t make them too deep!