LEV VYGOTSKY

SCAFFOLDING
 Lev Vygotsky was born in Russia in 1896.  He died
at the young age of 37 from tuberculosis.
 Due to his early death, most of his theories were
left undeveloped.
 His work in the last 10 years of his life has become
the foundation of much research and theory in
cognitive development
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
THEORY
 Social Development Theory argues that social interaction
precedes development; consciousness and cognition are
the end product of socialization and social behavior.
 Social interaction:
 Affects the learning process in an
individual.
 Creates consciousness and
awareness upon the individual.
 MAJOR THEMES ON THIS
THEORY

1. “Role of Social Interaction in Cognitive Development”

2. More Knowledgable Other (MKO)
3. Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)
4. Scaffolding
 ROLE OF SOCIAL INTERACTION
IN COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT:
LANGUAGE
 Language plays a central role in mental development
Language is the main means by which adults transmit
information to children. Language itself becomes a very
powerful tool of intellectual adaptation.
MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE
OTHER (MKO)
 Normally, when we think of an MKO we refer to an older
adult, a teacher or an expert. MKOs could also refer to
our friends, younger people and even electronic devices
like computers and cell phones.
 ZONE OF PROXIMAL
DEVELOPMENT (ZPD)

 The zone of proximal development is the area of

learning that a more knowledgeable other (MKO) assists
the student in developing a higher level of learning. 
 SCAFFOLDING

 Vygotsky defined scaffolding instruction as the “role of

teachers and others in supporting the learners
development and providing support structures to get to
that next stage or level” (Raymond, 2000)
 Instructional scaffolding is the support given to a
student by an instructor throughout the learning process.
This instructional approach allows students to experience
student-centered learning, which tends to facilitate more
efficient learning than teacher-centered learning
 Scaffolding – guidance or structure the more
knowledgeable other provides to help the learner
perform tasks in his/her ZPD
 Scaffolds should be used until leaner has internalized
behavior than fade away
 Examples of scaffolding in school:
 Outlines, guidelines, checklist
 Hints, guiding questions, reminders
 Strategies, plans
 Modeling, demonstrating
 Tools: calculator, technology
 Feedback

 Attempts to focus attention and

motivate
 HOW CAN WE PRACTICALLY
APPLY VYGOTSKY’S
THEORIES TO OUR
PHYSICAL ARRANGEMENT IN THE CLASSROOM -Arrange student desks in
EVERYDAY
clusters. CLASSROOMS?
Arrange other work spaces for peer instruction, collaboration, and
small group instruction.
 SCAFFOLDING
STRATEGIES
 RECIPROCAL
STRATEGIES
 Reciprocal teaching is a scaffolded, or supported,
discussion technique that incorporates four
main strategies predicting, questioning, clarifying,
summarizing that good readers use together to
comprehend.
 LESSON CONTENT

 Create lessons that engage student interest and give

them a basis for language when socially interacting.