The zone of proximal development

The zone of proximal development (ZPD) has been defined 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" (Vygotsky, 1978, p86).

 We, as a futures teachers, have to know where are situated our students and then teach them. Each student has his/her own position in the graphic, so we need to adapt to them. If we want the build new knowledge, we need to teach them they have to use their previous knowledge. Students should help each other sharing their previous knowledge.

 

In class we worked this.  Jesse gave us a problem, we needed to get a mathematical formula and we only had these pictures. We did this exercise by groups, we used our previous knowledge and we share it. For example, Isabel studied “bachillerato cientícico” so she knew more maths than the rest of the group. With her knowledge and our ideas, we got the solution. After that, we explained our result to the rest of the classmates.