One of Vygotsky's most famous concepts was the zone of proximal development, which asserts that:

• A. Learning is solely the result of individual exploration and discovery, independent of social interaction.
• B. Cognitive development occurs in fixed, universal stages that all children pass through in the same order.
• C. Children learn best when tasks are slightly beyond their current ability and can be accomplished with guidance from a more knowledgeable other.
• D. Intelligence is determined entirely by genetic inheritance and is unaffected by environmental factors.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the concept of Vygotsky's Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD). It refers to the difference between what a learner can do without help and what they can achieve with guidance and encouragement from a skilled partner.
2. Step 2: Recognize that ZPD emphasizes the importance of social interaction and collaboration in cognitive development, rather than learning being solely an individual process.
3. Step 3: Identify that tasks within the ZPD are those that a child cannot complete alone but can accomplish with assistance, highlighting the role of a 'more knowledgeable other' (e.g., teacher, peer, or adult).
4. Step 4: Compare the given options to the core idea of ZPD, noting that the correct statement aligns with the idea that children learn best when challenged just beyond their current ability with support.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the correct understanding of Vygotsky's ZPD is that learning is optimized when children engage in tasks slightly beyond their independent capability, facilitated by social interaction and guidance.