Zone of Actual Development

The Zone of Actual Development (ZAD) is a concept from educational psychology that refers to the skills and tasks a learner can complete independently, given their current knowledge and abilities. It represents what you can do on your own without help. Understanding ZAD helps teachers and trainers provide appropriate support and challenge, encouraging learners to grow into higher levels of competence. It’s about recognizing where a learner’s current capacity is, so instruction can be tailored to help them progress smoothly from their current skill level to more advanced skills with some guidance.