Theory Explanation & Application

What theory is applicable to why Stand Up For Kids can work to achieve their goals? Vygotsky’s Social Constructivist Theory!

In Lev Vygotsky’s theory, he views individuals as active in their construction of knowledge. In this theory, knowledge exists socially before it is known psychologically and requires a teaching and learning interaction between people to take place. He believes humans are active in their cognitive construction, but not by themselves. It can be done through interactions like teaching, education, and mentorship.

The main mechanism that drives this theory is expert-novice interactions. This is where development occurs. The expert is able to share and give sociocultural knowledge to the novice, but there is cultural information specific to that child which may influence their behavior. Age does not make a difference in this interaction. The novice takes in and appropriates the knowledge from the expert. Speech and language are considered the main mechanisms for how the knowledge is given. Although writing is a possible way for the expert to transfer knowledge to the novice, it is not the primary mechanism.

There is a range of abilities when completing a task. This range is called the Zone of Proximal Development. Novices are able to complete some tasks on their own, but they will still need to work with experts to complete other tasks when they're unable to complete them on their own. New tasks will command direct instruction while understood tasks will command less involvement.

Scaffolding is the dynamic quality support provided by the expert and given to the novice during a time when the expert is teaching the novice. There’s a gradual and eventual withdrawal of this support by the expert as the novice’s knowledge and confidence increase.