Social Constructivism

*Sorry about the formating the ITLS site is not maintaing the formanting I used in this post.*   Learning is growing, improving, expanding and refining.  To do that requires stretching and good instruction can do just that.  I like Vygotsky’s words, “Therefore the only good kind of instruction is that which marches ahead of development and leads it; it must be aimed not so much at the ripe as at the ripening functions” (Vygotsky, L.,1962, Thought and Language).    I also like this, “Teaching consists in assisting performance through the zone of proximal development.  Teaching can be said to occur when assistance is offered at points in the ZPD at which performance requires assistance” (Tharp, R. & Gallimore, R., 1988, Rousing Minds to Life).   Teachers can best effectuate learning by assisting performance and scaffolding instruction to lead development and progress through the ZPD.  Some effective ways this can be done is by modeling, questioning, offering feedback, and validation.  My personal preference in learning is to have something modeled for me, it is an effective way for me to understand and apply new ideas and concepts.