L7: Modern theories of cognitive development Flashcards
(15 cards)
What is the core idea of Vygotsky’s Sociocultural theory?
Cognitive development is heavily influenced by culture and social interaction
Children learn via collaboration and internalizing shared practices.
How does Vygotsky view the relationship between child and culture?
The child and culture are interconnected, not separate entities.
What does ‘doing creates knowing’ mean in Vygotsky’s theory?
Learning occurs through active participation in activities with others.
Give an example of cultural differences in number systems.
Examples include English and Spanish number systems.
Define the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD).
The gap between what a child can do independently vs. with guidance.
Why is the Zone of Proximal Development important?
Development occurs within ZPD and highlights potential, not just current abilities.
What is Dynamic Assessment?
Identifies a child’s potential by providing support and guiding learning.
What is scaffolding in the context of Vygotsky’s theory?
Support from a more knowledgeable person to help a child complete learning tasks.
List key features of scaffolding.
- Recruitment
- Engaging the child
- Reduction in degrees of freedom
- Direction maintenance of motivation
- Frustration control
- Demonstration and modeling solutions
What is effective scaffolding?
Adapting the level of help depending on a child’s performance.
More specific help when a child struggles and less as they improve.
How should help be adjusted in scaffolding?
Help should be adjusted based on the child’s ability to place pieces.
What does dynamic assessment involve?
It involves understanding that children with similar baseline competence but different developmental backgrounds show different learning potential in transfer processes when given assistance.
What is Vygotsky’s ‘outside in approach’?
An approach that emphasizes the role of the external world and social interaction in shaping children’s cognitive processes, unlike Piaget’s focus on individual cognitive development.
What is the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)?
The space between what a child can achieve alone and what they can achieve with help, guided by more knowledgeable others.
What does scaffolding provide?
A framework for new skills to be constructed and supported accordingly.
