Vygotsky, Lev Semenovich

Lev Vygotsky was a Russian psychologist known for his theory of social development. He believed that children's learning is fundamentally shaped by social interactions and culture. Central to his ideas is the "Zone of Proximal Development" (ZPD), which is the gap between what a child can do alone and what they can achieve with guidance from a more knowledgeable person. Vygotsky emphasized the importance of language and collaboration in cognitive development. His work highlights how social context and communication play a crucial role in how children learn and grow intellectually.