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Zone of Proximal Development

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Encyclopedia of Child Behavior and Development

Synonyms

Scaffolding; Zo-Ped; ZPD

Definition

The zone of proximal development is the hypothetical space between that which one can accomplish alone and that which one cannot accomplish, even with assistance. Lev Vygotsky has defined the ZPD as, “the distance between the actual developmental level as determined by independent problem solving and the level of potential development as determined through problem solving under adult guidance, or in collaboration with more capable peers” ([1], p. 86).

Description

Lev Vygotsky, an early twentieth century Russian psychologist, initially theorized and explored the ZPD as a means of understanding the circumstances under which children learn best. According to Vygotsky, ideal learning situations should be aimed at the middle of the zone of proximal development. In other words, learning tasks should not be so easy that children can accomplish them without any assistance, but they should not be so difficult that children cannot accomplish them,...

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References

  1. Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind and society: The development of higher psychological processes. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

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Additional Resources

  • Berk, L. E., & Winsler, A. (1995). Scaffolding children's learning: Vygotsky and early childhood education. Washington, DC: National Association for the Young Children.

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  • Moll, L. C. (2005). Vygotsky and education: Instructional implications and applications of sociohistorical psychology. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

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  • Rogoff, B., & Wertsch, J. V. (1984). Children’s learning in the “zone of proximal development”. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

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  • Vygotsky, L. S. (1986). Thought and language. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Educational Psychology, Ohio State University, 29 W. Woodruff Avenue, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA

    Sarah Kozel Silverman

Authors
  1. Sarah Kozel Silverman
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Neurology, Learning and Behavior Center, 230 South 500 East, Suite 100, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84102, USA

    Sam Goldstein Ph.D.

  2. Department of Psychology MS 2C6, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, 22030, USA

    Jack A. Naglieri Ph.D. (Professor of Psychology) (Professor of Psychology)

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© 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

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Silverman, S.K. (2011). Zone of Proximal Development. In: Goldstein, S., Naglieri, J.A. (eds) Encyclopedia of Child Behavior and Development. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-79061-9_3131

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-79061-9_3131

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-387-77579-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-387-79061-9

  • eBook Packages: Behavioral Science

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