Explore the concept of scaffolding as it relates to the zone of proximal development.
For your initial post, watch The Birth of a Word and answer the following questions:
How do Roy’s “amazing feedback loops” demonstrate scaffolding or the zone of proximal development?
Think of a time you learned a new schema. How did scaffolding support your learning, and how did you know that you were becoming more competent?
How does the concept of scaffolding as it relates to the zone of proximal development apply to any of the following programmatic themes? You may want to review the Programmatic Themes PDF document.
Self-care
Social justice
Emotional intelligence
Career connections
Ethics
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Thesis Statement:
Scaffolding, as exemplified by Roy’s “amazing feedback loops” in The Birth of a Word, is a key component of the zone of proximal development, aiding in the acquisition of new knowledge and skills. This concept of scaffolding and the zone of proximal development can be applied to various programmatic themes such as self-care, social justice, emotional intelligence, career connections, and ethics.
Introduction:
The concept of scaffolding, as it relates to the zone of proximal development (ZPD), is a crucial aspect of learning and skill development. In the video, The Birth of a Word, Roy’s “amazing feedback loops” beautifully illustrate how scaffolding supports learning. This essay will explore how scaffolding facilitates learning, provide a personal example of learning a new schema with scaffolding, and discuss how the concept applies to programmatic themes such as self-care, social justice, emotional intelligence, career connections, and ethics.
The Role of Scaffolding in Learning:
Roy’s “amazing feedback loops” in The Birth of a Word demonstrate scaffolding and the zone of proximal development. Scaffolding refers to the support provided by a more knowledgeable individual or tool that enables learners to accomplish tasks or solve problems that they would not be able to do independently. Roy uses repetition and imitation to scaffold his daughter’s language development. By repeating and expanding on her vocalizations, he provides guidance within her ZPD, gradually pushing her to develop more sophisticated language skills.
Personal Experience of Scaffolding:
Reflecting on a personal experience, I recall learning to play a musical instrument. My teacher provided me with sheet music tailored to my skill level, breaking down complex musical passages into simpler parts. This step-by-step approach allowed me to gradually build my skills and confidence. Additionally, my teacher would model and demonstrate the correct techniques, providing immediate feedback and correcting any mistakes I made. Through this scaffolding process, I could see my improvement over time, as I was able to play more challenging pieces with greater ease and accuracy.
Application of Scaffolding to Programmatic Themes:
Self-care: Scaffolding can be applied to self-care by providing individuals with supportive tools and resources to develop healthy habits. For example, a fitness app that guides users through personalized exercise routines and offers feedback helps individuals gradually improve their fitness levels.
Social justice: Scaffolding in the context of social justice involves providing individuals with the necessary knowledge and skills to advocate for equality and justice. This can include educational programs that teach critical thinking skills and provide resources for activism, empowering individuals to challenge systemic inequalities.
Emotional intelligence: Scaffolding in emotional intelligence involves providing individuals with strategies to recognize and regulate their emotions effectively. This could include therapy sessions or mindfulness training that gradually builds emotional awareness and coping mechanisms.
Career connections: Scaffolding can be applied to career connections by providing mentorship programs or internships that allow individuals to learn from more experienced professionals. This guidance within the ZPD helps individuals develop the necessary skills and knowledge for their chosen career path.
Ethics: Scaffolding in ethics involves providing individuals with frameworks and guidance to navigate complex moral dilemmas. This can include ethical decision-making models or case studies that gradually expose individuals to different ethical perspectives and challenge their thinking.
Conclusion:
Scaffolding plays a crucial role in facilitating learning within the zone of proximal development. As demonstrated by Roy’s “amazing feedback loops” in The Birth of a Word, scaffolding guides learners in acquiring new knowledge and skills by providing support and guidance. This concept is applicable to various programmatic themes such as self-care, social justice, emotional intelligence, career connections, and ethics. By recognizing the importance of scaffolding, educators and practitioners can create environments that foster growth and competence in individuals across different domains.
