Vygotsky's Theory

Today in class we talked about Lev Vygotsky theories on how a child's mind develops. I personally agree with Vygotsky's theory compared to Piaget's theory.  Vygotsky's theory takes into account that each child is different and that they learn at a different pace and in different ways. The 3 main points to Vygotsky's theory are assumption, zone of proximal development and scaffolding.  To go into detail about what Vygotsky mean about assumption is that a child learns by developmental trajectory is what a child knows can be used to build on, to teach them new things. A example of assumption would be math you can't ask a child with no mathematical background to multiply until they have learned the basics, so if you present them with the mathematical problem of 4*3 they must first know that what this equation means to solve that problem they also need to know the basic skill of addition.The second point is that cognitive skills are structured by language, as a child language is used as a tool that helps children plan activities and solve problems. The third point is importance of social relations and culture, a child's development is link strongly with the environment that they are brought up using the inventions of society such as computer and watching television they will be further along then those without.  This point is one that is extremely important, Piaget theory does not take into account that the use of technology and the culture you are brought up in plays a huge roll in the development of a children`s minds.  The last point to go with assumptions is learning is situated and collaborated this suggest that knowledge can best be advanced through interactions with other people.

The zone of proximal development is a range of tasks that are to difficult for children to master alone but can be learned with guidance and assistance.  In the lower limits a  child can solve problems and tasks by working alone and the upper limit is the level of additional responsibility a child can accept with assistance from an able instructor

Scaffolding is the level of support that a teacher or mentor gives to a child and is based on each individual child's zone of proximal development.  When first teaching a Child a new concept you give them step by step instructions then you allow them to do problems on their own when a question is asked you show them how to fix the problem they have encounter as time goes on when a problem arises you ask them to go back to the problem and go over the steps to see if they can figure out where they went wrong on the problem by themselves.  This helps give  the child the support they need to be able to solve problems and be able to think through and solve problems on their own.

Vygotsky's theory makes the most sense to me and takes into account that the way each child learns is different.  He also understands the culture and society that a child is brought up in plays a role in that child's development.