Chapter 4 - Vygotsky's Theory

Question 1

Imaginary Audience

Answer 1

• feeling like the center of attention
• ability to critically evaluate self leads to assume that everyone else is also critically evaluating you
• explains conformity, susceptibility to peer pressure

Question 2

Personal Fable

Answer 2

• belief that one’s thoughts, feelings experiences are unique
• new experiences = uniqueness

Question 3

Illusion of invulnerability

Answer 3

• belief that nothing bad can happen to me (unique)
• explains risk taking behavior
• immaturity of pre-frontal cortex while limbic system grows faster (amygdala)
• evolution - to “leave the nest”

Question 4

Limits of Piaget’s theory

Answer 4

• under-estimated infants abilities - infants have more knowledge
• vague processes
• individual differences in performance not explained
• undervalues influence of sociocultural environment

Question 5

Vygotsky’s theory

Answer 5

• constructivist theory (building our belief about the world)
• children as social beings
• learning happens through social plane/interactions

Question 6

Intersubjectivity

Answer 6

• mutual shared understanding among participants in an activity
• social behaviours shapes internal thoughts and understanding

Question 7

Guided Participation

Answer 7

• cognitive growth results from children’s involvement in structured activities with others who are more skilled than them

Question 8

Main contributions to education

Answer 8

ZPD - range of tasks too difficult to do alone but with others is fine - skills in the zone should be focuses of education

Scaffolding - respond to the child’s reactions in the learning situation
- start small steps and more guidance then give more challenges

Language and thought:
- private speech - children use self directed speech to guide behaviour
- Piaget said it represents egocentrism but could be good emotional regulation
-Inner speech - internalization of private speech (requires practice; 3-7 years old)

Question 9

Lessons from Piaget

Answer 9

• Children are curious and active learners
• facilitate dont direct
• consider the childs stage
• learning happens naturally
• foster sense of exploration and discovery

Question 10

Lessons from Vygotsky:

Answer 10

• use ZPD do develop curriculum and asses performance
• treat each child as an individual
• use more-skilled peers as mentors
• monitor and encourage children private speech
• place instruction in meaningful context