Vygotsky and Learning

Paper Summary:

Lev Vygotsky is one of the most prominent figures in the area of learning and social cognitive theories. This paper explained how he believed that a child learns from his environment and the society itself. His interactions with adults enable him to form ideas and speech. Without their help and guidance, the child wouldn't be able to organize information from raw data. The paper points out how Vygotsky argued that children are primarily depended on a teacher or more capable peer for learning. For this reason, he considered classroom discussions important for according to him, they facilitate communication and help the child internalize what he learns.

From the Paper:

"Vygotsky maintains that there are four basic stages of learning: "First, from the very beginning, auxiliary signs are brought in and given to the child by the social environment in order to control, direct, and regulate the child's behavior. Second, the child actively begins to use signs in order to influence other people and act on others around him. Third, the word, as a sign with socially shared meaning, is the most useful sign in children's attempts to master their environment. Finally, basic processes are transformed mostly as a function of children's use of speech as a tool for planning and guiding their activity" (Moll, 1990)."

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