Zone of Proximal Development in STEM Education

Teaching coding, especially in primary school, requires a lot of thought, patience and creativity. While some kids may seem to naturally grasp programming concepts much faster than others, there are different ways in which you can make things easier for them. But first things first; what exactly is the Zone of Proximal Development you say? Let’s find out!

What is the Zone of Proximal Development?

The Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) is first developed by Lev Vygotsky in the 1930s. ZDP is the sweet spot between what a student can learn on their own and what they can do with a little help from a peer or teacher. We think that ZPD is important because students build confidence in their abilities while being challenged just enough to stay motivated to learn more.

Teach programming concepts using easy-to-follow visual tools

If you’re teaching young kids how to code, it’s important to choose tools that are visual and intuitive. You don’t want to overwhelm them with too much information, which can happen with more advanced programming languages. Here are a few visual tools that you can use to introduce kids to programming in a game like environment:

Teach basic coding concepts using gaming platforms

Many kids are already familiar with gaming, and they’re a great way to introduce programming concepts. This is especially true if you’re teaching younger kids and want to keep things as simple as possible. Minecraft is a sandbox game that allows kids to create and explore new worlds. Older kids can learn Java, a professional text-based programming language, by having them create their mods for Minecraft.

Create a small group for optimal learning

The best environment for child learning is to keep them with their peers. In addition to learning from each other, most children challenge themselves more when they see their peers succeed. Also learning how to help each other is an important skill in their development.

Conclusion

When it comes to teaching kids how to code, you’ll need to make sure to adjust your teaching approach to their developmental process. Being aware of the Zone of Proximal Development can greatly enhance student engagement and learning  It’s important to build up their confidence and to choose tools that are visual and intuitive. Use repetition to reinforce newly learned skills and gradually build up students’ knowledge at their own pace.