Zone of Proximal Development and Scaffolding

Presented by Angel Fajardo and Gaby Ibarra

VYGOTSKY AND THE ZONE OF PROXIMAL DEVELOPMENT (ZPD)

Sometimes work is too easy. Sometimes work is just right.  Sometimes work is too hard.

"comfort zone". The zone of proximal development Panic Zone no learning will take place. neither bored nor frustrated, but appropriately challenged. The learner becomes frustrated.

MKO The more knowledgeable other

(MKO) this person can be anyone—a

coach, a teacher, another student (of any age), or even a computer.

Zone of Proximal

Development

Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD).

The difference between what a child can do independently and what the child needs help from a more knowledgeable person.

Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)

Distance Between Actual and Potential Knowledge  potential knowledge

  actual knowledge

Two children with the same actual knowledge travel different distances to their potential knowledge; therefore different ZPDs

ZPD

Leve

ls of

De

velo

pmen

t what I can’t do what I can do with help what I can do

This is an example of how ZPD can work in the life of a child

There is one game, however, that James has never learned. It’s the card game Yu-Gi-Oh. James knows his brother plays it very well.

James would like to learn, but is unsure where to start.

James finally asks his brother Ali for help. Ali agrees, and begins working with James in learning the game of Yu-Gi-Oh.

James is learning in the region Vygotsky would call ZPD.

This is an example of how ZPD can work in the life of a child

In ZPD, James is doing something requiring the help of someone more capable. Without Ali’s help, James would be unable to play the game.

Eventually, James will learn the game well enough to play the game by himself.

This is an example of how ZPD can work in the life of a child

Once James learns Yu-Gi-Oh, the skill moves out of the ZPD region and is added to all the other games James plays independently.

In time, James becomes the more capable player, and begins to teach his sister .

This is an example of how ZPD can work in the life of a child

References

. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC164414/. http://www.thempra.org/childrenaustralia_SH_LH.htm http://psychology.about.com/od/zindex/g/zone-proximal.htm http://giftedkids.about.com/od/glossary/g/proximal_dev.htm