Implications of Constructivism for Instructional Design

Week 4

Zone of Proximal Development

ZPD, a concept introduced by Vygotsky, is a crucial aspect of Constructivist instructional design. It refers to the gap between what a learner can do independently and what they can do with the help of a more knowledgeable other.

When building your lesson or before you teach anything, think:

What minimum intervention is necessary to get your learners from point A to point B?
What does someone need to gain knowledge?
How much guidance does the learner need?

Through Constructivism, social interactions and cooperation facilitate the learning process according to each person's ZPDs while providing guidance and supporting each other's learning experiences. Remember, scaffolding is a support system. Know your audience so you can use the best tools they might need depending on their level or skill, but also consider their learning style.

Constructivism and Motivation

Motivation is the persistence of giving something to accomplish it or completing a task. Motivation is critical when applying Constructivism as a learning theory in your practice. Consider the two types of Motivation a learner may get or receive when Motivation strikes.

Intrinsic Motivation: These are one's internal incentives when learning new knowledge. They involve a degree of personal satisfaction because they come from you (the Motivation you bring to the table). There are several types of intrinsic Motivation: Challenge, Curiosity, Control, and Context.

2. Extrinsic Motivation: This includes external or provided rewards or punishments.

These could include experiences, social acceptance or rejection, gaining or losing

money, respect or humiliation, gaining or losing points, or certain rewards. Extrinsic

Motivation is what you expect from others before, during, and after the learning

experience. There are several types of extrinsic Motivation: reward-based Motivation, power-based Motivation, and fear-based Motivation.

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Sources and Citations

Simply Psychology. (2024d, February 1). Vygotsky's Zone of Proximal Development & Scaffolding Theory In Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/zone-of-proximal-development.html

Sharp Cookie. (2020, October 23). Zone of proximal development and scaffolding EXPLAINED! [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aofSkZsy6IY

Nickerson, C. (2023, September 29). Extrinsic vs. Intrinsic Motivation: What's the Difference? Simply Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/differences-between-extrinsic-and-intrinsic-motivation.html