This PPT prepared by Teacher Educator from Thiagarajar College of Preceptor-Madurai for B.Ed Trainees.

1. Vygotsky’s Theory of Cognitive
Development (Socio-Cultural
Approach)
K.Thangavel,
Assistant Professor,
Thiagarajar College of Preceptors, Madurai-9.
2/17/2021
K.Thangavel, Thiagarajar College of
Preceptors

2. Vygotsky’s Theory of Cognitive
Development (Socio-Cultural
Approach)
2/17/2021
K.Thangavel, Thiagarajar College of
Preceptors

3. • He was born in orsha, a part of Russian empire
(Belarus) on 17th november
• Graduated from Moscow University in 1917.
• He did extensive research in cognitive
development.
• He believed that children’s thinking is affected
by their social knowledge.
2/17/2021
K.Thangavel, Thiagarajar College of
Preceptors

4. Important features of Vygotsky’s
Theory of Cognitive Development
• Culture of the community in which the child
lives, makes a profound impact on its thinking.
• Knowledge of the culture of the community is
passed on to the child by his parents,
teachers, kith and kin.
• As a result of assimilation of this knowledge,
cognitive development takes place in the
child.
2/17/2021
K.Thangavel, Thiagarajar College of
Preceptors

5. • Language is the most important tool for
gaining the social knowledge.
• The child can be taught this socio-cultural
knowledge by other people via language.
• This is the method of helping the child in its
cognitive development.
• Intelligence as “the capacity to learn from
instruction” emphasis that there is a
requirement for a more knowledgeable other
than person or teacher.
• MKO ( More Knowledgeable Other)
2/17/2021
K.Thangavel, Thiagarajar College of
Preceptors

6. MKO
• Parents
• Teachers
• Instructors
• Coaches
• Experts or professionals
• Friends, peer group and computers
can serve as MKO
2/17/2021
K.Thangavel, Thiagarajar College of
Preceptors

7. Vygotsky’s Form-Board Test
• Eg. A young child and his father are playing
with wooden toys of different shapes.
• Father describes each shapes
• Encourages the child
• Child grasps the concept
• Father allows him to complete the task alone
• This is an example of social interaction
influencing cognitive development of a child
2/17/2021
K.Thangavel, Thiagarajar College of
Preceptors

8. Assumptions of Vygotsky’s Theory of
Cognitive Development
There are seven major assumptions
• 1. Through both informal and formal
conversations, adults convey to children
• Eg. Father is telling about transportation
• 2. Thought and language become increasingly
independent
2/17/2021
K.Thangavel, Thiagarajar College of
Preceptors

9. • 3. Complete mental processes begin as social
activities.
• 4. i) Level of actual development
child perform individually
• ii) Level of potential development
• 5. ZPD – Zone of proximal development
2/17/2021
K.Thangavel, Thiagarajar College of
Preceptors

10. • 6.Providing scaffolding to make the child
performing in ZPD zone.
• 7. Play allows children to stretch themselves
cognitively
2/17/2021
K.Thangavel, Thiagarajar College of
Preceptors

11. Implications
• Teachers help – cognitive development of
children
• Socio-cultural knowledge helps in growth of
intelligence
• Challanging tasks promote maximum cognitive
development
• Scaffolding makes teaching – learning process
more effective.
2/17/2021
K.Thangavel, Thiagarajar College of
Preceptors

12. • Teaching through mother tongue
• Social interactions are more beneficial than
• Self-learning
• Play way method is highly effective for young
children
2/17/2021
K.Thangavel, Thiagarajar College of
Preceptors