Question

PRACTICE your knowledge on Vygotsky's Theory by writing a two paragraph Essay about Francesca. Include the steps and process for the activity on how you would help her with her task. Make sure you make reference in your description to her ZPD, how you are using scaffolding, and what you are doing to coincide with what good mentors do to advance a child's cognitive development as by Vygotsky. (6 points)

Francesca is frustrated in the following activities:

• Trying to learn to tie her shoelaces

• Buttoning her shirt

• Zipping up her zipper on her coat

• Building a LEGO set

• Writing her name Pick ONE of the above situations/activity that you would like to help her with.

Second, write:

Using the ideas of Vygotsky's theory, describe what you think her ZPD's are at this stage in that activity. Then address the following questions in your essay. What should you do to help her and teach her? How would you interact with Francesca? How would you use scaffolding to help her? What are the steps that you would take so that Francesca can be proficient in the task. Points are awarded based on details and steps.

Answer 1

If, for instance, we have to teach Francesca how to write her name, then according to Vygotsky there is something her termed as ZPD (Zonal proximal development). This means that as per each individual child, there are certain things/activities that they can do without assistance, can do with assistance, and can't do at all.

With Francesca the second case is true, that is she can do the task with assistance. In this the method of scaffolding can be employed. Scaffolding is helping the child learn and acivtitt be guiding them through verbal cues or action cues.

In fransescas case, this could be done by showing her a few times how her name can be written, and then asking her to try and write it similarly. By this assistance, she will be able to do the tasks eventually. It can also be done by holding her hand and helping her to write her name.