http://www.learnnc.org/lp/pages/5075I like the words 'Zone of Proximal Development' but I can image that in practice it could be a disaster for gifted children, with teachers refering to 'charts' of what the levels of learning are. They could use these charts to 'prove' that the child isn't ready for more advanced work, because they haven't mastered skill X or Y. I like the idea that teaching has to start with understanding the learner, and finding out about them, what they know, what they are interested in knowing, basically what they are ready to learn next.
However, what I like even better is the 'gifted is as gifted does' approach, and give the child a chance to function in a more challenging learning environment and see the results. I think that that is more powerful than any assesment that can be done 'to' a child.
I guess I'll keep using the term 'Readiness Level' as a fuzzier term than 'Zone of Proximal Development.'
Smiles,
Grinity
