Question

What are the three perspectives Vygotsky proposed we should use to understand Cognitive Development? Explain each.

Answer 1

• Vygostsky focused on social interactions in the development of cognition, as he strongly believed that community plays an important role in the process of making meaning about things.In his words,social interactions comes before development.He has a socio-cultural approach towards cognitive development.
• He places more importance on culture playing a role in affecting cognitive development.He says that cognitive development varies across cultures.
• For Vygotsky,the enviornment in which children grow up plays a major role in their cognitive development i.e.how they think and what all they think about.
• Vygotsky states that cognitive development develops from social interactions, from guided learning that happens within the the zone of proximal development as children and their teachers or parents construct knowledge together.He focuses upon the importance of role of athe adults in cognitive development,who transmit their culture's tool of intellectual learning and adaptation that the children tend to internalize.
• Another perspective he explains is,more knowledgeable other (MKO).This refers to someone who has a better understanding about a particular concept or task more than the learner.MKO could a teacher ,mentor or even a child's peer who helps him out with learning and doing a particular task,as he has more knowledge.
• Finally,Zone of Proximal development indicates the difference between what a child can achieve independently and what a child can achieve through someone's help and guidance from a learned partner.For example,a child alone could take a lot of time to solve a puzzle,because he might not be knowing how to do it,but with the help of his friend,who knows ways to solve puzzles,he was able to solve it faster.
• This is the most sensitive area,wherein necessary guidance should be given to children,helping them to refine their higher skills for later use.
• The teaching method of helping children to learn by working with a teacher or someone who is learned to achieve goals is called scaffolding.