Individuals participating in peer collaboration or guided teacher instruction must share the same focus in order to access the zone of proximal development. Furthermore, it is essential that the partners be on different developmental levels and the higher level partner be aware of the lower's level. Instructional Strategies and Their Implementation in Instruction Scaffolding and reciprocal teaching are effective strategies to access the zone of proximal development. Scaffolding requires the teacher to provide students the opportunity to extend their current skills and knowledge. The teacher must engage students' interest, simplify tasks so they are manageable, and motivate students to pursue the instructional goal.
Reciprocal teaching allows for the creation of a dialogue between students and teachers.
The teacher and students alternated turns leading small group discussions on a reading. After modeling four reading strategies, students began to assume the teaching role. Cognitively Guided Instruction is another strategy to implement Vygotsky's theory. The Effectiveness of the Social Development Theory in Achieving Its Goals Vygotsky's social development theory challenges traditional teaching methods. Historically, schools have been organized around recitation teaching.