Vygotsky

 Zone of Proximal Development

• More Knowledgeable Others

• Mentors

• Teachers

• Parents

• Role Models on TV

• Peers

• The “sweet spot” - not too easy and not too hard

The concept of the Zone of Proximal Development has a subtle authoritarian tinge which distinguishes it, for instance, from Piaget's more democratic and individualistic emphasis on discovery learning.

Example of Vygotsky Moment EdTPA

Prior to lesson 1 they are signing the vocabulary with me, lesson 1 they are practicing with each other as I scaffold their learning, and lesson 2 they sign with each other and sign on their own. By the end, they would have had the opportunity to grow their zone of proximal development that Vygotsky teaches. They would not have been able to do this on lesson 1 nor at the beginning of lesson 2 (but close). I am expecting that a transformation in the ZPD happens at the end of lesson 1 beginning of lesson 2.

However, it is a vital aid for my ELLs, IEPs, and 504s students who need the extra time to read and paraphrasing of written instructions. I will often use the whiteboard to add paraphrased instruction for these students as well. These visual aids and gestures are away for me to scaffold within my students’ individual zones of proximal development that Vygotsky taught.