Lev Vygotsky
Lev Vygotsky (1896–1934)
Key Contribution / Core Idea
Introduced the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) and the idea that learning is socially constructed.
Background / Context
Russian psychologist, contemporary of Piaget, though less widely known in the West until his work was translated in the 1960s.
Main Theories / Methods
Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD): gap between what a learner can do alone and what they can do with guidance.
Scaffolding: support from teachers or peers enables progression.
Emphasised language and social interaction as drivers of learning.
Relevance to Modern KS3/4 Teaching
Directly informs group work, peer tutoring, and guided practice.
Teachers provide scaffolds (hints, structured tasks) until students gain independence.
Especially important in science practicals and problem-solving in maths.
How His Ideas Link to Others
Contrasted with Piaget’s focus on individual stages.
Bruner built on Vygotsky’s scaffolding concept.
Strengths and Appeal
Makes collaborative learning central, not just individual discovery.
Highly practical in classrooms.
Criticisms and Limitations
Concepts like ZPD are hard to measure precisely.
Assumes good quality peer or teacher input — not always present.
Legacy / Lasting Influence
Foundational to modern teaching practices like differentiation, scaffolding, and peer learning.
Central to constructivist and collaborative learning approaches.
Further Reading
Vygotsky, Mind in Society (1978, posthumous).
Daniels, Vygotsky and Pedagogy (2001).