Lev Vygotsky (1934, 1978) was a Russian philosopher and psychologist who proposed his now famous Sociocultural Theory. It states that cognitive development is influenced by cultural and social factors. A child does not learn in isolation but in a cultural and social context. He emphasised the role of social interaction in the development of speech and reasoning in children. Learning, as described by Vygotsky is ‘meaning-making’, which is a macro concept, not subject-specific. For example, while a student is exploring a particular topic, he is also at the same time picking up on problem-solving, social cues, belief systems, values and communication. Collaborative and cooperative learning, scaffolding and reciprocal teaching are some of the terms associated with the Sociocultural Theory.
John Dewey (1859-1952) was an American philosopher, psychologist, and educational reformer who, like Vygotsky, also spoke about learning in a social construct. He considered imagination crucial to drive thinking and learning forward. For that teachers have a great role to play in providing opportunities for students to engage in the playful exploration of possibilities in the classroom.
