Sociocultural theory places primacy on cognitive activity occurring
through social interaction with more knowledgeable
peers and adults who provide support as a child explores new
understandings, knowledge and skills, a disposition toward
learning, and insight about himself or herself as a learner (Dewey,
1976; Vygotsky, 1978, 1986). Pedagogy is not ultimately about
free play, instruction, or placing the child in carefully chosen
stimulating environments; the critical factor is a high degree of
direct adult engagement and guidance in the process of construction
(Bodrova and Leong, 1996). Vygotsky (1978) and Rogoff
(1990) provide a description of this learning process. Its central
feature requires addressing children within their zone of proximal
development, the zone within which a child can actively participate
in learning under the guidance of more knowledgeable
peers or adults, who structure the learning so as to guide the child
through tasks that are just beyond current capability. See Box 5-8
for an example of a program based on this theory.