The Zone of Proximal Development
The Zone of Proximal Development is the difference between what a student can accomplish independently and what they can accomplish scaffolding.
Lev Vygotsky, a Soviet psychologist, came up with the term describing the level of instruction that is beneficial for each student.
Instruction in the ZPD
Instruction in the ZPD is neither too easy nor too difficult. It is just challenging enough to help develop new skills by building on previously established skills.
Wood, Bruner, and Ross used the term scaffolding to refer to instructionally supportive activities and social interactions between the child and others as they guide effective learning and development in the ZPD.
Teaching in the ZPD requires the educator to examine each student as an individual learner. In turn teaching in the ZPD requires providing appropriate scaffolding for these learners.
How do I teach in the ZPD?
The following six questions will help teachers determine if they are instructing in the ZPD.
- Do I know what I want my students to understand at the end of this unit?
- Do I have an idea of the skills and knowledge students must have to reach this level of understanding?
- Do the tasks and activities I have created help me to assess student understanding?
- Am I observing and assessing to understand how they arrive at their answers?
- Am I adjusting my instruction based on my student’s understanding?
- Am I providing feedback with regard to student’s strengths?