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Vygotsky Podcast

by Anthony Barra

Let's try to better understand Vygotsky's ideas. These are audio versions of my YouTube videos found here: http://tiny.cc/3zayuzI'm no expert, so take my remarks with salt. Fortunately, most episodes in this podcast *DO* feature conversations with experts and deep researchers.Season 1 - Chats about CHT & Teaching;Season 2 - 5 Principles for Vygotskian Research;Season 3 - Answered Questions;Season 4 - Snippets & Excerpts;Season 5 - Notes on certain concepts;Season 6 - More short clips (from http://tiny.cc/vr3ns)Season 0 - Chats with friends (w/ emphasis on learning & development)

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Episodes

  1. (S5,Ep16) Overview of Vygotsky’s Theory (Veresov, 2021)

    Helpful article, worth reading in full. For now, here are four excerpts from “Cultural-Historical Theory and the Dialectics of Lower and Higher Psychological Functions" by Nikolai Veresov (2021) (If I sound a little off, well a. i. have a little . . . cold ; )

  2. (S4,Ep68) Vygotsky's Life Could Be a Movie

    with Francine Smolucha, Vygotskian translator, researcher, & teacher (Initially posted Nov 17, 2022) Full chat: http://tiny.cc/6g65vz

  3. (S4,Ep67) Three more concepts for literacy and life

    A few more considerations and ideas for reading fictional literature and "fictional reality”: texts as intentional acts; texts as a 'turn' in an ongoing cultural conversation; and threshold concepts. This excerpt is from "Thinking and Feeling Our Way Through Fake News" with Michael W. Smith...

  4. (S4,Ep66) Using literary skills to read the world (2)

    A few more tools for reading fictional literature and "fictional reality”: Impression management, narrator reliability, and a transferable question set that can be carried wherever one goes. This excerpt is from "Thinking and Feeling Our Way Through Fake News" with Michael W. Smith...

  5. (S4,Ep65) Using literary skills to read the world (1)

    Readers of literature tend to have rich imaginations which can sometimes be a barrier to parsing information in the world. On the other hand, literary skills can be great armor in the battle against information pollution. Here are a few tools. This excerpt is from "Thinking and Feeling Our Way...

  6. (S1,EP26) Vygotskian Creativity: In Theory, Practice, and Life

    Francine Smolucha has been translating, teaching, and researching Vygotsky since the 1980s. Along with an interesting personal history, we get a great look at creativity’s line of development from infancy through fully-realized adulthood. Highlights include: 0:48 - Francine’s interesting…

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  7. (S1,Ep25) Thinking and Feeling Our Way Through Fake News

    This discussion is about developing better filters for processing information in a messy world. Literacy and teaching expert Michael W. Smith helps us strengthen our mindset and skillset for navigating fake news. We also discuss great teaching concepts that work well in the classroom and the…

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  8. (S1,Ep24) A Tale of Two Stories - David Kellogg on Vygotsky

    David Kellogg discusses key challenges to talking about Vygotsky in public-friendly ways (main reason: it's hard, for teachers and learners). Storytelling, he says, can create helpful meeting points between concrete and abstract ideas, provided the stories aren't too misleading. After discussing...

  9. Hello, everybody!

    This message welcomes you and explains the large quantity of older episodes that I've re-posted at the top of this podcast. Vygotsky was a fascinating individual, and if you poke around a bit, I think you'll find some of the info interesting and useful.

  10. (S1,Ep18) A chat about CHAT (and CHT) (re-post)

    (Initially posted December 2, 2020) Nikolai Veresov helps to distinguish cultural-historical activity theory (CHAT) and cultural-historical theory (CHT). Highlights include: 0:35 - What is CHAT? (Ant's confession) 1:58 - Nikolai's preference for clarification over comparison 3:39 - Veresov…

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  11. (S4,Ep64) What Are Concepts -- and How Might They Be Taught? (re-post)

    (Initially posted November 1, 2020) Important questions. Interesting answers. Excerpts from Andy Blunden, Huw Lloyd, Peter Smagorinsky, David Kellogg, and Nikolai Veresov provide a great start to a rich conversation... Sources for all clips are available here: http://tiny.cc/led1tz

  12. (S4,Ep88) Bridging 'Everyday' to 'Academic' Concepts (re-post)

    (Originally posted Dec 22, 2021) Holbrook Mahn illustrates some question prompts and the thinking behind them. These ideas come from his "Academic Literacy for All (ALA) Protocol." The full chat is here: http://tiny.cc/q5umuz

  13. (S4,Ep78) Piaget & Vygotsky: the foundational difference between them (re-post)

    (Initially posted April 21, 2021) Nikolai Veresov discusses the under-reported "most important difference" between Piaget and Vygotsky, who had much in common, including a general approach to solving the "crisis in psychology." Excerpted from a private conversation (and used with permission).

  14. (S6,Ep1) Lenin's Tomb (feat. Mike Cole) (re-post)

    (Originally posted Aug 12, 2020) This brief clip raises a number of questions, including: where are 'the buds'? - what are the qualitative reorganizations here? why are the buds (e.g., of volition) not yet present for the 3 year-olds, present for the 5 year-olds, and already flowered for the 8...

  15. (S5,Ep14) Building a system of concepts (re-post)

    (Originally posted Sept 25, 2021) Nikolai Veresov, with contributions from David Kellogg, demonstrates how Vygotsky's cultural-historical theory is built as a system of concepts. To best understand (and use) one concept, it's important to understand its place and role in the theory, along with…

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  16. (S4,Ep85) Vygotsky's theory as a system of concepts (progress update) (re-post)

    (Initially posted May 27, 2021) While there are many pathways into Vygotsky's work, this approach, so far, has been the most sensible for a slow learner like me -- even if it's misguided and even if I'm still years away from synthesizing a lasting and holistic understanding. Full chat:...

  17. (S4,Ep79) Vygotsky's Theory as a System of Concepts (re-post)

    (Originally posted April 21, 2021) Nikolai Veresov explains how Vygotsky's cultural-historical theory was built as a system of concepts. Veresov then demonstrates how a CHT concept can be analyzed and applied as a theoretical tool. 0:03 - Analysis vs. Interpretation (and why the difference…

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  18. (S4,Ep66) Specific features: CHT and CHAT (re-post)

    (Initially posted December 3, 2020) Nikolai Veresov discusses specific features of cultural-historical theory (CHT), cultural-historical activity theory (CHAT), and also activity theory (AT). Full video: http://tiny.cc/s316tz

  19. (S4,Ep83) What are Neoformations? (a helpful metaphor) (re-post)

    (First posted May 21, 2021) David Kellogg notes the benefits and limitations of conceptualizing neoformations as thread and as pattern. Full chat: http://tiny.cc/16xxtz

  20. (S6,Ep14) Was Vygotsky a Social Determinist? (re-post)

    (Originally posted October 12, 2020) Nikolai Veresov looks to the concept of perezhivanie to answer the question. The full lecture, "Demystifying Perezhivanie: understanding development in the cultural-historical framework," is here: http://tiny.cc/87ezsz

  21. (S5,Ep13) "Should I read Vygotsky?" (for teachers, parents, & the curious in general) (re-post)

    (Initially posted March 27, 2021) Reading Vygotsky is challenging, yet the challenge is part of the fun. These excerpts are a good doorway into Vygotsky's writing -- and if you like them, consider checking out any or all of the following: https://bit.ly/3stZ2hJ​ - "Thinking and Speech, Chapter 6…

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  22. (S5,Ep5) Overview of Vygotsky's Theory (Veresov, 2020) (re-post)

    (Originally posted August 21, 2020) Three excerpts from Nikolai Veresov's "Discovering the Great Royal Seal: New Reality of Vygotsky’s Legacy" 0:16 - "The subject-matter of cultural-historical theory" 8:22 - "New realities and new opportunities" 11:32 - "Final remarks" Full article:...

  23. (S5,Ep4) Overview of Vygotsky's Theory (Wertsch, 1985) (re-post)

    (Originally posted August 20, 2020) An excerpt from one of my favorite books, James Wertsch's (1985) "Vygotsky and the Social Formation of Mind"

  24. (S5,Ep3) Overview of Vygotsky's Theory (Chaiklin, 2003) (re-post)

    (Originally posted August 20, 2020) An excerpt from Seth Chaiklin's (2003) "The zone of proximal development in Vygotsky’s analysis of learning and instruction" -- from the section, "Vygotsky's Theory of Child Development" Full text: http://tiny.cc/aenosz

  25. (S6,Ep20) Good vs. Bad Learning (teacher's eternal dilemma) (re-post)

    (Originally posted Nov 20, 2021) Nikolai Veresov highlights one of the hardest challenges of teaching. Excerpted from http://tiny.cc/da2muz

  26. (S4,Ep75) Some ideas for revising classroom lessons (re-post)

    (Initially posted December 17, 2020) Huw Lloyd helps me to rethink a lesson that I like but also know is flawed. The suggestions are adaptable to many types of lesson revision. The lesson, influenced by Vygotsky's idea that "word meaning develops," is summarized here: http://tiny.cc/z7v6tz Full...

  27. (S4,Ep73) Can group problem-solving address individual shortcomings? (re-post)

    (Initially posted December 17, 2020) Huw Lloyd discusses some cognitive benefits of synthesizing different perspectives, invoking an interesting metaphor from Michael Cole. Full chat here: http://tiny.cc/r5v6tz

  28. (S4,Ep60) Building Semantic Memory (re-post)

    (Originally posted September 10, 2020) David Kellogg cites language as the interface between individual and environment, and the development of word meaning as the prime builder of memory. Full chat here: http://tiny.cc/j60usz

  29. (S4,Ep43) A bridge (Vygotskian research and classroom teaching) (re-post)

    (Originally posted Apr 25, 2020) These three clips have captured my attention. Clip 1 - Vygotsky's "Law of 4 Stages" Clip 2 - How this law can help teachers and students Clip 3 - A memory game (biological vs. cultural memory) Full video: http://tiny.cc/byn7rz

  30. (S6,Ep7) Cultivating 'crisis' in the classroom (the good kind) (re-post)

    (Originally posted Jan 30, 2020) Interesting clip from a 2010 Natalia Gajdamaschko talk ". . . development comes out of resolving some sort of contradiction . . . some type of crisis . . . a good crisis" Full video: http://tiny.cc/5fjejz "Part 5 - Natalia Gajdamaschko on Vygotsky"

  31. (S6,Ep12) How the ZPD is a Research Tool (re-post)

    (Originally posted September 14, 2020) Nikolai Veresov argues that Vygotsky's zone of proximal development (ZPD) was created as a research tool, specifically as a means of helping researchers "find the buds" of development, i.e., to determine which psychological functions are in their earliest...

  32. (S5,Ep7) Environments for Active Learning: a Vygotskian perspective (Hillocks, 1995) (re-post)

    (Originally posted September 1, 2020) Excerpts from George Hillocks, Jr.'s (1995) book, Teaching Writing as Reflective Practice 0:23 - Three Modes of Teaching: Environmental, Presentational, and Natural Process 2:40 - Features of Environments for Active Learning 4:27 - Goals and Objectives of...

  33. (S4,Ep30) What is universal about human psychological development? (re-post)

    (Originally posted April 18, 2020) "HPFs are all different: thinking is not the same as memory; memory is not the same as imagination; imagination is not the same as will; and will is not the same as attention. 'But my task,' Vygotsky said, 'my task is not to find what separates them; my task is…

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  34. (S4,Ep34) A paradigm shift (concrete task vs. development?) (re-post)

    (Originally posted Apr 25, 2020) "The general advice is: when the child has a problem, don't think it it because of genetics; don't think it's because of brain disorder. Think about: maybe the child was not supported . . . think about how to introduce the tools he or she probably doesn't have"…

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  35. (S4,Ep10) Is Vygotsky's theory a left-wing theory? (re-post)

    (Originally posted Jan 23, 2020) Should Conservatives be wary of this theory? Full video w/ Nikolai Veresov: http://tiny.cc/2983iz

  36. (S1,Ep6) Vygotsky's Role in the History of Psychology: Part 1 (re-post)

    (Originally posted Jan 10, 2020 at Chats about CHT http://tiny.cc/kmylsz) Chat 2 with Vygotskian psychologist, Nikolai Veresov. Highlights include: 1:52 - The great puzzle of Vygotsky's time (The "Crisis of Psychology") 6:30 - Even Kant thought the crisis was unsolvable 9:22 - How to see the...

  37. (S3,Ep1) What does the Social Situation of Development mean? (re-post)

    (Originally posted Feb 10, 2020) I asked Andy Blunden for his explanation of Vygotsky's concept of the social situation of development, and here it is. Thanks, Andy. Highlights include: 0:07 - How do we get from dependent newborn to independent adult? 1:16 - development takes place through a…

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  38. (S3,Ep5) Was Vygotsky's breakthrough as original as advertised? (re-post)

    (Originally posted Feb 12, 2020) Andy Blunden weighs in.

  39. (S3,Ep12) Vygotskian Threshold Concepts? (re-post)

    (Originally posted Jun 25, 2020) What do you think is the most powerful threshold concept in Vygotsky's work? Andy Blunden weighs in, followed by responses from three other Vygotskian researchers. From Meyer and Land (2003): "Threshold Concepts’ may be considered to be “akin to passing through a...

  40. (S4,Ep1) Nikolai Veresov on the misunderstanding of ZPD (re-post)

    (Originally posted Jan 23, 2020) Why is Vygotsky's most famous concept still "a victim of misunderstanding"? Full video here: http://tiny.cc/fl83iz

  41. (S4,Ep5) Peter Smagorinsky on "Sturdy" Concepts (re-post)

    (Originally posted Jan 23, 2020) What's better: theory or practice? Full video: http://tiny.cc/cr83iz

  42. (S4,Ep7) Peter Smagorinsky on "Social" Concepts (re-post)

    (Originally posted Jan 23, 2020) Are hard-science concepts similar to social-science ones? Are they equally reliable? Full video: http://tiny.cc/cr83iz

  43. (S4,Ep11) Nikolai Veresov on helping children - and adults - overcome obstacles (re-post)

    (Originally posted Jan 23, 2020) "And then we look: do they have enough higher psychological functions to overcome this?" Full video: http://tiny.cc/2983iz

  44. (S4,Ep13) Peter Smagorinsky on Biological and Cultural Development (re-post)

    (Originally posted Jan 23, 2020) An interesting explanation of lower and higher mental functions Full video: http://tiny.cc/by93iz

  45. (S4,Ep37) Transformers & Flowers (re-post)

    (Originally posted Jun 16, 2020) Nikolai Veresov explains, via analogy, the difference between transformation and qualitative reorganization. Full interview here: http://tiny.cc/lj0uqz

  46. (S5,Ep1) Notes on Dialectics, 1 (bird's-eye view) (re-post)

    (Originally posted March 2, 2020 at http://tiny.cc/4nylsz) I am trying to understand Vygotsky's theory in a way that's easy to explain. This is harder than I had hoped. For instance, a sufficient understanding of dialectics appears to be a requirement. Here, I share helpful notes from a trusted...

  47. (S5,Ep2) Vygotsky on teaching (and learning) concepts (re-post)

    (Originally posted July 26, 2020 at http://tiny.cc/4nylsz) Some interesting paragraphs from Thinking & Speech, Ch. 6, pp. 169-70

  48. (S4,Ep42) The Key to Unlocking Vygotsky? (repost)

    (Originally published Jul 17, 2020) Nikolai Veresov says that understanding dialectics is a prerequisite for grasping the depth of Vygotsky's project, since "cultural-historical theory is the result of the application of dialectics into psychology." For instance, somewhat obscure concepts such as...

  49. (S4,Ep89) Building a concept vs. starting with definitions

    Holbrook Mahn illustrates an idea with an interesting anecdote about grammar The full chat is here: http://tiny.cc/q5umuz Notes for teachers on Holbrook's Academic Literacy for All (ALA) Protocol: http://tiny.cc/0lsmuz

  50. (S4,Ep88) Bridging 'Everyday' to 'Academic' Concepts

    Holbrook Mahn illustrates some question prompts and the thinking behind them. These ideas come from his "Academic Literacy for All (ALA) Protocol." The full chat is here: http://tiny.cc/q5umuz Notes for teachers on Holbrook's Academic Literacy for All (ALA) Protocol: http://tiny.cc/0lsmuz

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

Let's try to better understand Vygotsky's ideas. These are audio versions of my YouTube videos found here: http://tiny.cc/3zayuzI'm no expert, so take my remarks with salt. Fortunately, most episodes in this podcast *DO* feature conversations with experts and deep researchers.Season 1 - Chats about CHT & Teaching;Season 2 - 5 Principles for Vygotskian Research;Season 3 - Answered Questions;Season 4 - Snippets & Excerpts;Season 5 - Notes on certain concepts;Season 6 - More short clips (from http://tiny.cc/vr3ns)Season 0 - Chats with friends (w/ emphasis on learning & development)

HOSTED BY

Anthony Barra

CATEGORIES

education

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Vygotsky Podcast currently has 226 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is Vygotsky Podcast about?

Let's try to better understand Vygotsky's ideas. These are audio versions of my YouTube videos found here: http://tiny.cc/3zayuzI'm no expert, so take my remarks with salt. Fortunately, most episodes in this podcast *DO* feature conversations with experts and deep researchers.Season 1 - Chats about...

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Vygotsky Podcast publishes regularly with 226 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.

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Who hosts Vygotsky Podcast?

Vygotsky Podcast is created and hosted by Anthony Barra.
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