Social constructivism

Social constructivism

1. Vygotsky

   • Stage theory similar to Piaget
     • Development rooted in social & cultural context

2. Self talk

   • Process of internalising social speech

3. Cultural tools

   • Language
     • Appropriation
       • Adapt for own needs or use in new ways
         • Social thinking appropriated by children, not constructed on their own

4. Zone of proximal development

   • Difference between what a child can do unaided & what same child can do with help from more able others

5. Scaffolding

   • Wood- providing support whilst not simplifying task
     • Informal instruction essential to learning process
   • once baby understands interactions, mom can begin to tutor
     • Bruner- mom aids language acquisition by involving baby in joint action formats
       • simplified/stereotyped sequences
         • scaffolding- structure imposed by mom to allow transition of knowledge
           • Bruner- book reading action format
             • mom comments on book with 4 types of utterance in fixed order
               • behaviour contingent on that of child when he initiates part of cycle, rules of polite dialogue
   • Newson & newson- infant visual behaviour
     • mom supports visial tracking in 4wk olds
       • monitoring behaviour, adjusting own
         • provides sustained looking experience
   • Wood et al- other behaviours support the process
     • modelling- showing what can be done
       • Cueing- indicating what needs to be done next
         • raising ante- encouraging to achieve more complex goals

6. Highlights relationship between development & culture

   • Links to inclusive education & peer tutoring

7. No focus on child's view

   • Crain - pressure to start formal ed before ready