Lev Semyonovich Vygotsky (1896-1934), a Russian psychologist, had somewhat different ideas about cognitive development. Instead of seeing children as little scientists who carry out informal experiments to fig our out the world around them, Vygotsky emphasized the importance of the social world and of culture in promoting cognitive growth. Learning first takes place in the interaction between people. He believed that looking at what the child is capable of learning in interaction with a skilled helper is a better indicator of his level of cognitive development than just testing what he already knows.
Zone of proximal development: according to Vygotsky, this is what a child cannot do on her own but can do with help from someone more skilled or knowledgeable
Scaffolding: the idea that more knowledgeable adults and children support a child's learning by providing help to move the child just beyond his current level of capability
Dynamic assessment: a testing procedure that uses a test-intervene-test procedure to assess the examinee's potential to change
Zone of proximal development: according to Vygotsky, this is what a child cannot do on her own but can do with help from someone more skilled or knowledgeable
Scaffolding: the idea that more knowledgeable adults and children support a child's learning by providing help to move the child just beyond his current level of capability
Dynamic assessment: a testing procedure that uses a test-intervene-test procedure to assess the examinee's potential to change