zone of actual development

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Categories: Site glossary

Z.A.D., the 'zone' where a learner is working within their competences – where they are likely to be successful, but not supported to develop further (cf. Z.P.D.)

"One zone consists of the skills and competencies that a learner has already acquired (the ZAD). Tasks that are set in the ZAD are able to be successfully completed (assuming the learner can be motivated to engage with these tasks) at a high standard – with few errors and high accuracy…Carrying out tasks with competence offers limited scope for development….If education is about developing learners further (as it should be) then working in the ZAD is insufficient." (Taber, 2018, pp.9-10)

[Please be aware that a word may have different nuances, or even a different meaning, according to context.]« Back to Index

Author: Keith

Former school and college science teacher, teacher educator, research supervisor, and research methods lecturer. Emeritus Professor of Science Education at the University of Cambridge.