How Vygotsky Defined the Zone of Proximal Development

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsStagesKey ComponentsApplicationsPotential Challenges

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Stages

Key Components

Applications

Potential Challenges

The zone of proximal development (ZPD), or zone of potential development, refers to the range of abilities an individual can perform with the guidance of an expert, but cannot yet perform on their own.

Vygotsky is known for hissociocultural theory, which suggests that cognitive development is a result of social interactions and these interactions can differ from one culture to the next.

Stages of the Zone of Proximal Development

There are three distinct categories where a learner may fall in terms of their skill set. Forlearningto take place, it’s critical that the expert understands the learner’s specific ZPD stage.

Tasks a Learner Cannot Accomplish With Assistance

Tasks that are outside of the learner’s ZPD are those that are unable to be completed even with the help of an expert.

If the task isn’t within the learner’s ZPD, the expert may look to decrease the level of difficulty and find tasks that are more appropriate given the learner’s skill level.

Tasks a Learner Can Accomplish With Assistance

When a learner is close to mastering a skill set required to complete a task but still needs the guidance of an expert to do so, they are considered to be in their zone of proximal development.

In this situation, an expert may use various techniques to help the learner better understand the concepts and skills required to perform a task on their own.

Tasks a Learner Can Accomplish Without Assistance

In this phase, the learner is able to complete tasks independently and has mastered the skill set required to do so. The learner does not need the help of anexpert.

When a learner has reached this stage, the expert may increase the task difficulty level in order to find the learner’s next ZPD andencourage further learning.

Key Components of the Zone of Proximal Development

The success of this learning process involves these key components:

7 Main Developmental Theories

The “More Knowledgeable Other”

The “more knowledgeable other” is someone who has a higher level of knowledge than the learner and is able to provide them with instruction during their learning process.

While a child might not yet be capable ofdoing something on their own, they are able to perform the task with the assistance of a skilled instructor, which may include a parent, a teacher, another adult, or a peer.

Scaffolding

When a child is in their ZPD, an expert will provide them with appropriate assistance to help themaccomplish a new task or skill. Activities, instructions, tools, and resources that are used to aid in this learning process are known as scaffolding.

Examples of scaffolding that educators may use include:

Eventually, scaffolding can be removed and the student will be able to complete the task independently.

For learning to take place, Vygotsky believed thatsocial interactionbetween a more knowledgeable other and the learner was critical. While the expert may be an adult, Vygotsky also emphasized the power of peer learning.

For instance, when kids are learning a new concept, social interaction between the adult expert and all of the children is initially crucial. But, if some children grasp the concept, while others are still in their ZPD, peer interaction may create the most conducive environment for learning.

Zone of Proximal Development Applications in the Classroom

The zone of proximal development is a moving target. By giving children tasks that they cannot quite do easily on their own and providing the guidance they need to accomplish them, educators can progressively advance the learning process.

Here are some examples of how the zone of proximal development is used in the classroom:

What Is Sociocultural Theory?

Potential Challenges of the Zone of Proximal Development

While scaffolding can be incredibly helpful for students learning a new concept or skill, if the teacher is unaware of each student’s unique ZPD, these learning techniques may not be effective.

According to research, other difficulties educators may encounter include:

The zone of proximal development is an important concept in the fields of both education and psychology. By understanding how the ZPD works, educators and experts can be better prepared to create instruction and learning programs that maximize the tools and resources available to students.

7 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Eun B.The zone of proximal development as an overarching concept: A framework for synthesizing Vygotsky’s theories.Educational Philosophy and Theory. 2017;51(1):18-30. doi:10.1080/00131857.2017.1421941Lake R.Vygotsky on Education Primer. Peter Lang; 2012.Abtahi Y.Pupils, tools and the Zone of Proximal Development.Research in Mathematics Education. 2017;20(1):1-13. doi:10.1080/14794802.2017.1390691Doo MY, Bonk C, Heo H.A meta-analysis of scaffolding effects in online learning in higher education.IRRODL. 2020;21(3). doi:10.19173/irrodl.v21i3.4638Shvarts A, Bakker A.The early history of the scaffolding metaphor: Bernstein, Luria, Vygotsky, and before.Mind Cult Act.2019;26(1):4-23. doi:10.1080/10749039.2019.1574306Petosa RL, Smith LH.Peer mentoring for health behavior change: A systematic review.American Journal of Health Education.2014;45(6):351-357. doi:10.1080/19325037.2014.945670Bardack S, Obradović J.Observing teachers’ displays and scaffolding of executive functioning in the classroom context.J Appl Dev Psychol. 2019;62:205-219. doi:10.1016/j.appdev.2018.12.004Additional ReadingCrain W.Theories of Development: Concepts and Applications.6th ed. Essex: Pearson Education Limited; 2014.Vygotsky, L.S.Mind in Society: The Development of Higher Psychological Processes. Harvard University Press; 1978.

7 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Eun B.The zone of proximal development as an overarching concept: A framework for synthesizing Vygotsky’s theories.Educational Philosophy and Theory. 2017;51(1):18-30. doi:10.1080/00131857.2017.1421941Lake R.Vygotsky on Education Primer. Peter Lang; 2012.Abtahi Y.Pupils, tools and the Zone of Proximal Development.Research in Mathematics Education. 2017;20(1):1-13. doi:10.1080/14794802.2017.1390691Doo MY, Bonk C, Heo H.A meta-analysis of scaffolding effects in online learning in higher education.IRRODL. 2020;21(3). doi:10.19173/irrodl.v21i3.4638Shvarts A, Bakker A.The early history of the scaffolding metaphor: Bernstein, Luria, Vygotsky, and before.Mind Cult Act.2019;26(1):4-23. doi:10.1080/10749039.2019.1574306Petosa RL, Smith LH.Peer mentoring for health behavior change: A systematic review.American Journal of Health Education.2014;45(6):351-357. doi:10.1080/19325037.2014.945670Bardack S, Obradović J.Observing teachers’ displays and scaffolding of executive functioning in the classroom context.J Appl Dev Psychol. 2019;62:205-219. doi:10.1016/j.appdev.2018.12.004Additional ReadingCrain W.Theories of Development: Concepts and Applications.6th ed. Essex: Pearson Education Limited; 2014.Vygotsky, L.S.Mind in Society: The Development of Higher Psychological Processes. Harvard University Press; 1978.

Eun B.The zone of proximal development as an overarching concept: A framework for synthesizing Vygotsky’s theories.Educational Philosophy and Theory. 2017;51(1):18-30. doi:10.1080/00131857.2017.1421941Lake R.Vygotsky on Education Primer. Peter Lang; 2012.Abtahi Y.Pupils, tools and the Zone of Proximal Development.Research in Mathematics Education. 2017;20(1):1-13. doi:10.1080/14794802.2017.1390691Doo MY, Bonk C, Heo H.A meta-analysis of scaffolding effects in online learning in higher education.IRRODL. 2020;21(3). doi:10.19173/irrodl.v21i3.4638Shvarts A, Bakker A.The early history of the scaffolding metaphor: Bernstein, Luria, Vygotsky, and before.Mind Cult Act.2019;26(1):4-23. doi:10.1080/10749039.2019.1574306Petosa RL, Smith LH.Peer mentoring for health behavior change: A systematic review.American Journal of Health Education.2014;45(6):351-357. doi:10.1080/19325037.2014.945670Bardack S, Obradović J.Observing teachers’ displays and scaffolding of executive functioning in the classroom context.J Appl Dev Psychol. 2019;62:205-219. doi:10.1016/j.appdev.2018.12.004

Lake R.Vygotsky on Education Primer. Peter Lang; 2012.

Abtahi Y.Pupils, tools and the Zone of Proximal Development.Research in Mathematics Education. 2017;20(1):1-13. doi:10.1080/14794802.2017.1390691

Doo MY, Bonk C, Heo H.A meta-analysis of scaffolding effects in online learning in higher education.IRRODL. 2020;21(3). doi:10.19173/irrodl.v21i3.4638

Shvarts A, Bakker A.The early history of the scaffolding metaphor: Bernstein, Luria, Vygotsky, and before.Mind Cult Act.2019;26(1):4-23. doi:10.1080/10749039.2019.1574306

Petosa RL, Smith LH.Peer mentoring for health behavior change: A systematic review.American Journal of Health Education.2014;45(6):351-357. doi:10.1080/19325037.2014.945670

Bardack S, Obradović J.Observing teachers’ displays and scaffolding of executive functioning in the classroom context.J Appl Dev Psychol. 2019;62:205-219. doi:10.1016/j.appdev.2018.12.004

Crain W.Theories of Development: Concepts and Applications.6th ed. Essex: Pearson Education Limited; 2014.Vygotsky, L.S.Mind in Society: The Development of Higher Psychological Processes. Harvard University Press; 1978.

Crain W.Theories of Development: Concepts and Applications.6th ed. Essex: Pearson Education Limited; 2014.

Vygotsky, L.S.Mind in Society: The Development of Higher Psychological Processes. Harvard University Press; 1978.

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Stages of the Zone of Proximal Development#

Tasks a Learner Cannot Accomplish With Assistance#

Tasks a Learner Can Accomplish With Assistance#

Tasks a Learner Can Accomplish Without Assistance#

Key Components of the Zone of Proximal Development#

The “More Knowledgeable Other”#

Scaffolding#

Social Interaction#

Zone of Proximal Development Applications in the Classroom#

Potential Challenges of the Zone of Proximal Development#