Zones of Develpment and Metacognitive Engagement in Teaching and Learning

How does awareness of the ZPD and ZDD help educators or learners?

The conscious movement toward a distal goal while working to achieve inter-related proximal goals:

  • Contributes to the learner's metacognitive engagement in the learning process; and
  • Helps cultivate a habit of reflective learning and practice.

Mindful teaching practice assists the educator in identifying educational strategies and tools to offer strategic guidance to learners. Such mindfulness makes teaching more deliberate and reflective and can improve both teaching and learning practices.