SOCIOCULTURAL THEORY´S KEY CONCEPTS

Today I´ll try to summarize what I am learning about some key concepts in Vygotsky´s theory.

Mediation:  Is the interaction of our mind with signs, tools or artifacts from the outside world to assist mental process (knowledge, learning). For Socio Cultural Theory, maturation or development occurs from out to in, i.e. mental processes are triggered by social interaction. Mediation is “the process which connects the social and the individual” (Swain, Kinnear, & Steinman, 2011), thus, mediation is the link that enables  learning and development.

Zone of proximal development (ZPD): A space or state in which learning is possible to occur. It is the difference between an individual´s capacity of performing a certain task alone and the capacity of doing it with the assistance of a more expert partner; Vygotsky ( 1978) defined ZPD as the distance between the actual developmental level of a person and his or her potential development if guided by a more capable peer (Vygotsky, 1978). However, currently, ZPD is understood as an action, as the ‘interaction’ during which mediation is enacted and learning takes place (Swain, Kinnear, & Steinman, 2011).

Of course these are my interpretations of my understanding of these two concepts. If you understand them in the same of different way, please feel free to share. This entry is in itself a potential ZPD in which we can negotiate our knowledge, mediated by language, and thus, achieve learning!!  ^_-

Coming up… my favorite metaphor “scaffolding”, “internalization” and “languaging” (no idea so far whatsoever!)

References

Swain, M., Kinnear, P., & Steinman, L. (2011). Sociocultural theory in second language education. Bristol: Multilingual matters.

Vygotsky, L. (1978). Mind in society: the development of higher psychological processes. Cambridge MAL: Harvard University Press.