tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2107060758629396184.post1818409150518837844..comments2024-03-26T23:23:06.905-07:00Comments on Blogger in Middle-earth: A Brief Look at Zone of Proximal DevelopmentBlogger In Middle-earthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08722634477041121797noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2107060758629396184.post-20762089178263523522009-06-10T16:12:59.095-07:002009-06-10T16:12:59.095-07:00Kia ora Paul!
Thanks for this. I used the word &#...Kia ora Paul!<br /><br />Thanks for this. I used the word 'scaffolding' in the post. I didn't elaborate on this term as it involves so much else. But it is extremely relevant to ZPD, as you explain in your comment. <br /><br />Apparently Vygotsky was enchanted by the (early) work of Piaget. Stands to reason?<br /><br />Catchya laterBlogger In Middle-earthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08722634477041121797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2107060758629396184.post-5324916581011723492009-06-10T15:31:14.471-07:002009-06-10T15:31:14.471-07:00The ZPD reinforces the concept that teachers need ...The ZPD reinforces the concept that teachers need to cultivate the background knowledge of students when introducing new concepts. Anticipatory activities will engage students and heighten learning. Excellent explanation of the concept.Paul Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01836602667355512504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2107060758629396184.post-81756012105342549612009-06-10T15:12:34.629-07:002009-06-10T15:12:34.629-07:00Haere mai!
Tēnā koe Newman.
Thanks for dropping b...Haere mai!<br />Tēnā koe Newman.<br /><br />Thanks for dropping by with your relevant question.<br /><br />My link to work by Tharp and Gallimore takes you to a diagram that shows that their expansion of Vygotsky's original ZPD involves what you refer to here.<br /><br />Vygotsky's ZPD focussed on the observable capability of the learner when given assistance from a capable other. What is clear to me (and alluded to by Vygotsky at various points in Mind and Society) is that the ZPD of older learners (teenagers say) are of a different nature. My own observations show me that older learners, especially mature adults, make use of the area you refer to.<br /><br />Whether this entity and Vygotsky's ZPD are related is a matter for cojecture. My own feeling is that they are different. Recall that Vygotsky spoke of his ZPD as a (better, more useful) way of measuring developmental level in a young learner - probably quite a different idea from what you explain here.<br /><br />Catchya laterBlogger In Middle-earthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08722634477041121797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2107060758629396184.post-32861786558974317242009-06-10T14:33:10.664-07:002009-06-10T14:33:10.664-07:00You know I always thought of the ZPD as a way to e...You know I always thought of the ZPD as a way to explain why, for instance, you became a better skier / tennis player / ukulele player, if you practiced or were involved with those just alittle bit better than you ... but, not too much. If in the ZPD (as I understood it), you would be challenged and engaged by measuring up and competition. If not, you would either become bored (too easy, not enough competition, and personal development)Or you would become frustrated (too hard, can keep up, not learning anything).<br /><br />Is this anywhere close to the actual ideas Vygotsky?<br /><br />Thanks for the post! I agree the ZPD deserves much more study. And, it has implications for all the social-ness that is going on in education and communication.Newmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05963097383859128368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2107060758629396184.post-91786039446466665072009-06-10T14:27:10.967-07:002009-06-10T14:27:10.967-07:00Kia ora Virginia!
Indeed, with 6 children I have ...Kia ora Virginia!<br /><br />Indeed, with 6 children I have observed how they all develop differently. Of course the model would be different for each. There was never any assumption that it would be universal - neither does Vygotsky suggest this in any way.<br /><br />Developmental milestones? Hmmm. Development has various different types, or at least, there are different ways of regarding development. I'm not so sure that ZPD has application other than possibly predicting potential to reach these so-called milestones - but the milestones seem fearfully academic and bound up with progress assessment.<br /><br />I agree that there's more research needed. However, the evidence already available seems to confirm that:<br /><br />1 provided the concept of ZPD is accepted, Vygotsky's ZPD is indeed observable in all young learners,<br /><br />2 the ZPDs for all learners are different, both in extent and 'shape' simply because of the different stages of development of all in different areas of learning (I've observed this with all my children for instance and you with yours),<br /><br />3 the ZPD appears to lend some assistance to educators in predicting possible future development in learners - in this way it also provides a way (according to Vygotsky) of assessing a more useful picture of the developmental level of the learner.<br /><br />Vygotsky's observation that the ZPD was more of a measure of the development of the learner than any progress assessment is a fulcrum. I guess what some may look to research for is a way of quantifying (measuring in quantitative and qualitative ways) the ZPD for a learner. Vygotsky's view of this was that a ZPD is a transient thing, ever shifting, ever advancing, that left behind little trace of its retrospective size, breadth or shape.<br /><br />What I tried to do with these pictures was to convey the idea that the ZPD was a mobile entity capable of being observed and charted, but that leaves no detectable shadow within the learner that permits its past form to be determined easily.<br /><br />Catchya laterBlogger In Middle-earthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08722634477041121797noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2107060758629396184.post-53496327178333635972009-06-10T06:47:41.087-07:002009-06-10T06:47:41.087-07:00With four children, I am sure you have seen how di...With four children, I am sure you have seen how different children develop differently. I wonder what would happen if you put Gardner's "intelligences" over the ZPD. Do children draw on their preferred strengths or abilities which results in a difference in ZPD? Would the model then be different for each person? Could we develop different developmental mile stones based on this?<br /><br />I think, for example, of my son who is a "young" sophmore (2nd year) in high school. Because of his verbal and retreival skills, he does well in school (in honors courses). But then socially, I see him going through the same developmental things (relationships with others in the class, openness to new ideas, independence) much later than his classmates. I always was much slower "learner" than others in my class, partly because of my age (I was one of the youngest in my class) but more so because of my style. I tend to be very reflective, needing to see a big picture, needing time to process and analyze. I just move at a slower pace.<br /><br />I think there does need to be more research into the ZPD.V Yonkershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11910904367068063554noreply@blogger.com