Kelly Komnick

ECD 203
2/6/18
Lev Vygotsky

Theory

Lev Vygotsky's theory is the theory of cognitive development and social development
theory. His theory states that social interaction plays a fundamental role in the process
of cognitive development. He said that children need plenty of time to work together
in groups. They also need to work together in groups with different age levels, this
helps promote their language and cognitive development. He said when children
imitate others they are developing a vocabulary that allows them to make and
navigate the world around them. He also believed that social learning precedes
development, meaning a child will not be able to develop unless he undergoes or
experiences social learning first. Vygotsky believed in scaffolding which refers to a
variety of instructional techniques used to move students progressively toward
stronger understanding and greater independence in the learning process.
Scaffolding is a great technique to use when there are learning gaps. Vygotsky also
came up with the Zone of Proximal Development which is the hardest thing a child
can do without help to the hardest thing a child can do with help. Vygotsky was very
prominent on play is important. He stated that when children play they can take on
many different roles which is great for their cognitive control. Children at play are
making sense of the world through a process called inner speech, where they are
often talking out loud to themselves.

Implications

In my future classroom, I will make sure the children have plenty of uninterrupted play
time. I will make sure all the children have access to props and other materials
needed for pretend play. I will also encourage children to have conversations with
one another in child lead and teacher lead classroom discussions. I will make sure to
always use open ended questions when talking to the children. I will also make sure to
plan cooperative learning activities with groups of children at different levels that can
help each other learn. I will also plan individual lesson plans for each child looking at
both levels of their own individual ZPD. I will also use videos and interactive worksheets
to engage my students and assist them through scaffolding. In my future classroom, I
will also encourage self-talk.

References

Understanding Vygotskys Social Development Theory. (2016, November 27). Retrieved

February 06, 2018, from https://www.cleverism.com/vygotskys-social-
development-theory/