In the Salon Vygotsky would have been the pychologist standing alone holding a small snifter of the finest vodka to warm him from harsh cold of the Russian winter. His thoughts were young an innovative as he would be thinking about the ZPD, the Zone of Proximal Development. He found the theories of his predecessors evolutionary genetics and selectionists, and quite boring. A man in his early thirties he would have been less interested in the boring talk of chemical synapses of the brain's cerebral cortex, and more intrigued in watching the children interact out on the terrace.
He was confident in his observations that the development of inner speech and interaction was just as important as watching the children explore the their wonderings of the flowers, plants, and butterflies. He would ask the question “What can I do to help you?” , or simply attemp to support the childrens discovery in a meaningful way. He would offer them encouragement to explore, having his colleagues observe them, guide themwith answeres to their questions, and scaffold ideas that built on the childs interests. He thought learning and developement happened as a result of exposure to the real world and real life situations for discovery. In fact Piaget overheard him make the following statement
"The old adage that children’s play is imagination in action can be reversed: we can say that imagination in adolescents and school children is play without action" (Vygotsky, 1978).
In the following years he did not attend parties at the Salon as he succumbes to tuberculosis at the young age of 38. His theory's have since been carried on by his sister and daughter who have had a tremendous impact on contemporary education.
Vygotsky's Zone of Proximal Development is one of the more accessible theories, I find, because it is easier to observe and apply. As an educator, it makes perfect sense too. I wonder what Vygotsky would say about standardized testing.
After reading about how Vygotsky challenged Piaget's theory of development. Vygotsky's sociocultural theory of development basically states that because human activity takes place in a cultural setting, it can't be understood without taking that setting into consideration. I'm sure is Piaget and Vygotsky got together in a salon they would have a lot to talk about. Perhaps they would have a heated debate would ensue at first, however I think that a combination of the theories of Piaget's cognitive develope states and Vygotsky's opinions on sociocultural development would create a very rich approach to understanding child development.
Would Vygotsky believe in having a computer software program taking over the role of a teacher when a child needs scaffolding while working within his or her zone of proximal development?
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Comments (4)
Ruthanne Pavlis said
at 4:00 pm on Jun 7, 2009
In the Salon Vygotsky would have been the pychologist standing alone holding a small snifter of the finest vodka to warm him from harsh cold of the Russian winter. His thoughts were young an innovative as he would be thinking about the ZPD, the Zone of Proximal Development. He found the theories of his predecessors evolutionary genetics and selectionists, and quite boring. A man in his early thirties he would have been less interested in the boring talk of chemical synapses of the brain's cerebral cortex, and more intrigued in watching the children interact out on the terrace.
He was confident in his observations that the development of inner speech and interaction was just as important as watching the children explore the their wonderings of the flowers, plants, and butterflies. He would ask the question “What can I do to help you?” , or simply attemp to support the childrens discovery in a meaningful way. He would offer them encouragement to explore, having his colleagues observe them, guide themwith answeres to their questions, and scaffold ideas that built on the childs interests. He thought learning and developement happened as a result of exposure to the real world and real life situations for discovery. In fact Piaget overheard him make the following statement
"The old adage that children’s play is imagination in action can be reversed: we can say that imagination in adolescents and school children is play without action" (Vygotsky, 1978).
In the following years he did not attend parties at the Salon as he succumbes to tuberculosis at the young age of 38. His theory's have since been carried on by his sister and daughter who have had a tremendous impact on contemporary education.
Ruth Kim said
at 9:27 pm on Jun 7, 2009
Vygotsky's Zone of Proximal Development is one of the more accessible theories, I find, because it is easier to observe and apply. As an educator, it makes perfect sense too. I wonder what Vygotsky would say about standardized testing.
Dana Newburger said
at 11:33 am on Jun 8, 2009
After reading about how Vygotsky challenged Piaget's theory of development. Vygotsky's sociocultural theory of development basically states that because human activity takes place in a cultural setting, it can't be understood without taking that setting into consideration. I'm sure is Piaget and Vygotsky got together in a salon they would have a lot to talk about. Perhaps they would have a heated debate would ensue at first, however I think that a combination of the theories of Piaget's cognitive develope states and Vygotsky's opinions on sociocultural development would create a very rich approach to understanding child development.
Kerry Galvin said
at 12:47 pm on Jun 8, 2009
Would Vygotsky believe in having a computer software program taking over the role of a teacher when a child needs scaffolding while working within his or her zone of proximal development?
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