Zone of proximal development

Zone of Proximal Development is a term used to describe how people learn. It is the space between what a person can do on their own and what they can do with the help of guidance or support from someone else. For example, a 5 year old child may be able to solve math problems with the help of a teacher. That space between the child's ability to solve problems on their own, and the help they get from the teacher, is the Zone of Proximal Development. It is an important tool for teachers, because it helps them know how best to help the child learn.