Leyte Normal University

Tacloban City
Graduate School

Assignment in
RDG_503 Strategies and
Methods in Teaching

Submitted by:
Rosemarie Vero-Marteja
MAT-FILIPINO

Submitted to:
Prof. Lorena Ripalda

June 22, 2019

SOCIO-CULTURAL AND SOCIO-POLITICAL
PERSPECTIVE
What Is Sociocultural Theory?

Sociocultural theory is an emerging theory in psychology that looks at the

important contributions that society makes to individual development. This theory
stresses the interaction between developing people and the culture in which they
live. Sociocultural theory also suggests that human learning is largely a social
process.

An Introduction to Sociocultural Theory

Sociocultural theory grew from the work of seminal psychologist Lev

Vygotsky, who believed that parents, caregivers, peers, and the culture at large
were responsible for developing higher order functions.

According to Vygotsky, learning has its basis in interacting with other

people. Once this has occurred, the information is then integrated on the
individual level:

Vygotsky was a contemporary of other great thinkers such as Freud,

Skinner, and Piaget, but his early death at age 37 and the suppression of his
work in Stalinist Russia left him in relative obscurity until fairly recently. As his
work became more widely published, his ideas have grown increasingly
influential in areas including child development, cognitive psychology, and
education.

Sociocultural theory focuses not only how adults and peers influence
individual learning, but also on how cultural beliefs and attitudes impact how
instruction and learning take place.

According to Vygotsky, children are born with basic biological constraints

on their minds. Each culture, however, provides what he referred to as 'tools of
intellectual adaptation.' These tools allow children to use their basic mental
abilities in a way that is adaptive to the culture in which they live. For example,
while one culture might emphasize memory strategies such as note-taking, other
cultures might utilize tools like reminders or rote memorization.

Piaget vs. Vygotsky: Key Differences

So how does Vygotsky's sociocultural theory differ from Piaget's theory of

cognitive development?

First, Vygotsky placed a greater emphasis on how social factors influence

development. While Piaget's theory stressed how a child's interactions and
explorations influenced development, Vygotsky stressed the essential role that
social interactions play in cognitive development.

Another important difference between the two theories was that while
Piaget's theory suggests that development is largely universal, Vygotsky
suggested that cognitive development can differ between different cultures. The
course of development in a Western culture, for example, might be different than
it is in an Eastern culture.

The Zone of Proximal Development

An important concept in sociocultural theory is known as the zone of

proximal development.
 According to Vygotsky, the zone of proximal development "is the distance
between the actual development level as determined by independent problem
solving and the level of potential development as determined through problem-
solving under adult guidance or in collaboration with more capable peers."

Essentially, it includes all of the knowledge and skills that a person cannot
yet understand or perform on their own yet but is capable of learning with
guidance. As children are allowed to stretch their skills and knowledge, often by
observing someone who is slightly more advanced than they are, they are able to
progressively extend this zone of proximal development.

Practical Applications for Vygotsky's Sociocultural Theory

Sociocultural theory has gained popularity in recent years, particularly in

educational settings. Some examples of how this theory can be put into practice
in the real-world:

In the Classroom

Understanding the levels of the zone of proximal development can be helpful

for teachers. In classroom settings, teachers may first assess students to
determine their current skill level. Once this has been ascertained, educators can
then offer instruction that stretches the limits of each child's capabilities. At first,
the student may need assistance from an adult or more knowledgeable peer, but
eventually their zone of proximal development will expand. 

 Teachers can plan their instruction and lessons. For example, the teacher
might organize the class into groups where less skilled children are paired
with students who have a higher skill level. 
 Hints, prompts, and direct instruction can be used to help kids improve
their ability levels.
 Educators might also utilize the concept of scaffolding, where the teacher
provides prompts to move the child progressively forward towards a goal.

Socializing and Play

Vygotky's theory also stressed the importance of play in learning.

Teachers and parents can utilize this knowledge by providing children plenty of
opportunities for play experiences. Vygotsky believed that through playing and
imagining, children were able to further stretch their conceptual abilities and
knowledge of the world. 

Types of play that can further learning include imaginary play, role-playing,
games, and reinactments of real events. Such activities help foster the growth of
abstract thought.

What Is Socio-Political Perspective?

The definition of sociopolitical is something that involves both social and

political factors. An example of something that is sociopolitical is the issue of
environmental conservation, which is influenced by both social attitudes towards
"going green" and by political policies.

Socio-political is the combination of social and political. We can also say

that it is the way of life in the society and the politics. And with the combination of
socio-political reading of the scripture we tend to mean the way one read the
scripture according to the context of the way of living in the society. It means
contextualizing the scripture in the context of the society and community.

References
Kendra,C.2018. What Is Sociocultural
Theory?https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-sociocultural-theory-2795088

Doungel,L.2011.The Cultural Criticisms And Liberationist Reading Of

Scripture:Socio-Political Reading.
http://wondrful-world.blogspot.com/2011/07/socio-political-reading.html

https://www.yourdictionary.com/sociopolitical