Lev Vygotsky

Joe Birkholz
 Biography
Born on November 17, 1896 in Orsha, Belarus, in what was then the Russian Empire.
Attended Moscow State University, was admitted through a Jewish Lottery so the
school could meet their quota for Jewish students.
Studied a variety of topics, including sociology, linguistics, psychology, and philosophy,
and graduated with a law degree in 1917.
Didnt begin working in psychology until 1924 when he began working on his
dissertation, which he was awarded in absentia in 1925 due to a bout of tuberculosis.
After this illness, Vygotsky began to study and research topics such as attention,
language, and memory.
Over the next ten years, he published six books on psychology before succumbing to
tuberculosis on June 11, 1934.
His ideas were considered controversial at the time, and was suppressed in Stalinist
Russia. However, his work has gained much wider recognition and acclaim in the
decades following his death.
 Sociocultural Theory
Social interactions between a child and its parents, caregivers, peers, and
culture are responsible for higher brain development.
Behaviors and habits are developed from both a childs culture and their
interpersonal experiences.
Nature vs. Nurture: Vygotsky errs on the side of Nurture.
Example: when learning to speak, children first use language as a way to
communicate (socially interact) with others, but as they master language they
will use it to direct themselves internally and independently.
 Zone of Proximal Development
An important part of Sociocultural
Theory is the Zone of Proximal
Development (ZPD)
The gap between what a child can do
alone and what a child cant do alone.
The ZPD is the area where a child can
do things with help, learning along the
way. Through help and instruction, the
ZPD will change, being overtaken by
what a child can do.
Scaffolding is an important part of the
ZPD.
 More Knowledgable Other
Refers to someone who knows more knowledge and skills than the learner.
Leads the learner through development, towards independence.
Adult, be it a parent or a teacher.
Can sometimes be a peer.
This is the person who can help a learner navigate the ZPD.
 Importance in the Classroom
People are a product of their environments, and that environment can include
culture, social interactions, language that is spoken, etc.
Much of teaching is about relationship building: a relationship is based on
social interactions.
Through teaching and instruction, a teacher is able to guide a student through
their own personal Zone of Proximal Development towards mastery and
understanding of the content.
 School Implications
As teachers, it is important that we understand our students, and the context of
their lives. Understanding how social interactions influence and impact means
that teachers must always be working on having positive and meaningful
relationships.
Assessments meant to target a students ZPD, based on their actual
development, will be more effective. This can help with differentiation, as well
as what types of modifications and support for students.
Teenagers are more influenced by their social life than anything else. That
hyper-awareness can be harnessed to great effect by applying Vygotskys
Sociocultural Theory.
 Sources
Lev Vygotsky. (2016, May 19). Retrieved from http://www.simplypsychology.org/vygotsky.html
Lev Vygotsky. (2016, May 19). Retrieved from http://totallyhistory.com/lev-vygotsky/
Lev Vygotsky. (2016, May 19). Retrieved from http://www.famouspsychologists.org/lev-vygotsky/
Lev Vygotsky Biography. (2016, May 19). Retrieved from http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/lev-vygotsky-5998.
php
Lev Vygotsky Biography. (2016, May 19). Retreived from https://www.verywell.com/lev-vygotsky-biography-2795533
Social Development Theory (Vygotsky). (2016, May 19). Retreived from http://www.learning-theories.com/vygotskys-
social-learning-theory.html
Vygotskys Theory. (2016, May 19). Retrieved from https://tadahgroup.wordpress.com/vygotskys-theory-2/