What Makes People Tick?

The Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) is a concept I learnt about while studying to be a teacher. The ZPD describes the learning that a student needs to do to get from where they are now and what they know at present to where they can get to and what they will know with help. I found it an interesting concept and enjoyed learning about it and seeing it happening right in front of my eyes while at job placements.  The 'creator' of the concept, Soviet psychologist Lev Vygotsky (1896–1934), describes it much better than I do:  The zone of proximal development (ZPD) is " the distance between the actual developmental level as determined by independent problem solving and the level of potential development as determined through problem solving under adult guidance, or in collaboration with more capable peers "  Lev Vygotsky, 1978 * In my words, Vygotsky thought that children learn better when inspired / helped / assisted by adults or other (sometimes older) childre...