Vygotsky's Educational Theory in Cultural Context

by Edited by Alex Kozulin , Boris Gindis , Vladimir S. Ageyev , Suzanne M. Miller

• ISBN13: 9780521821315
• ISBN10: 0521821312
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2003-09-15
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

The book comprehensively covers all major topics of Vygotskian educational theory and its classroom applications. Particular attention is paid to the Vygotskian idea of child development as a consequence rather than premise of learning experiences. Such a reversal allows for new interpretations of the relationships between cognitive development and education at different junctions of the human life span. It also opens new perspectives on atypical development, learning disabilities, and assessment of children's learning potential. Classroom applications of Vygotskian theory are discussed in the book. Teacher training and the changing role of a teacher in a sociocultural classroom is discussed in addition to the issues of teaching and learning activities and peer interactions. Relevant research findings from the US, Western Europe, and Russia are brought together to clarify the possible new applications of Vygotskian ideas in different disciplinary areas.

Table of Contents

Introduction: the socio/cultural theory and education: students, teachers and knowledge

Part I. Concepts and Paradigms: 1. Psychological tools and mediated learning

2. The zone of proximal development in Vygotsky's analysis of learning and instruction

3. Vygotsky's doctrine of scientific concepts: its role for contemporary education

4. Some cognitive tools of literacy

5. Dynamic assessment of the evolving cognitive functions in children

Part II. Development and Learning: 6. Periods in child development: Vygotsky's perspective

7. Development through the lifespan: a neo-Vygotskian approach

8. Learning and development of preschool children from the Vygotskian perspective

9. The learning activity in the first years of schooling: the developmental path towards reflection

10. Remediation though education: socio/cultural theory and children with special needs

Part III. Socio/Cultural Theory Application in the Classroom: 11. Cultural/historical theory and mathematics education

12. Socio/cultural theory and the practice of teaching historical concepts

13. Formation of learning activity and theoretical thinking in science teaching

14. How literature discussion shapes thinking: ZPDs for teaching/learning habits of the heart and mind

15. Beyond cognition: a Vygotskian perspective on emotionality and teachers' professional lives

Part IV. Diverse Learners and Contexts of Education: 16. Interpersonal communication and internalization in the second language classroom

17. Mediation in cognitive socialization: the influence of socioeconomic status

18. Cultural modeling: CHAT as a lens for understanding instructional discourse based on African-American English discourse patterns

19. The relations of learning and student social class: toward re-'socializing' socio/cultural learning theory

20. Vygotsky in the mirror of cultural interpretations.