A researcher pairs 5-year-olds with either a same-age peer or a slightly older child to solve a 24-piece puzzle. Children paired with the older child completed the puzzle 38% faster and, when later tested alone, solved a similar puzzle more independently. The older child often pointed at corner pieces and said, "Try those first."
The performance gap between what children can do alone and with help defines Vygotsky's:
- Acheck_circle
Zone of proximal development
- B
Stage of concrete operations
- C
Schema assimilation
- D
Sensitive period
Explanation
Vygotsky's zone of proximal development (ZPD) is the range of tasks a learner cannot yet perform independently but can complete with guidance from a more skilled partner. Scaffolding (the older child's hints) supports learning within that zone.