(S1,Ep12) The Principle of Developmental Tools - with Nikolai Veresov

Nikolai and I continue chatting about GRM, the "genetic research methodology" that unifies Vygotsky's Cultural-historical theory. GRM is the experimental side; CHT is the theoretical side. This is chat 4. (Originally published April 21, 2020 at Chats about CHT http://tiny.cc/kmylsz)

Highlights include:

0:58 - Nikolai discusses his new book (translation of Vygotsky's late lectures for teachers)

6:01 - How many laws did Vygotsky discover? 11:20 - Our goals for today - Conducting a Vygotskian Experiment (Principle 4)

12:30 - Nikolai's role in identifying the 5 Principles of Genetic Research Method

14:42 - Why this experimental principle is important

15:01 - Relation between Principle 4 (experimental principle) and Mediation (theoretical principle)

20:31 - Two types of mediators: physical tools and psychological tools (i.e., signs)

24:48 - The principle of signification distinguishes human from other types of development

28:14 - Who mediates? (as opposed to What mediates?)

32:10 - Interdependence of social interaction and mediation

34:48 - Signification vs signalization: Vygotsky's departure from Pavlov (speech is not a 'second signal system')

40:24 - Is a genre synonymous with a sign or family of signs?

42:46 - Veronika Nourkova's research on the development of memory

44:43 - How is the Principle of Developmental Tools related to the rest of Cultural-historical Theory?

50:20 - Vygotsky's neglected "most important" law of cultural development: The Law of 4 Stages

1:00:24 - HPFs develop at different rates -- law of 'de-synchronicity'

1:05:37 - The importance of Principle 4 as an experimenter and researcher

1:08:29 - What is universal about human psychological development?

1:11:11 - How the law of 4 stages can support research - e.g., Minson study

1:15:16 - Some examples of how (uniquely human) cultural memory works

1:21:27 - Importance for teachers -- very interesting! 1:25:48 - When Nikolai was young . . . and always late

1:28:59 - Which kinds of research questions can be answered with Principle 4?

1:31:56 - Are there ways to identify students' differing rates of HPF development?

1:34:29 - A favorite joke about motivation 1:39:09 - Which HPFs are in action in certain academic tasks?

References:

L. S. Vygotsky's Pedological Works, Vol. 1 Foundations of Pedology - http://tiny.cc/vtlhnz

Tools of the Mind - https://toolsofthemind.org/about/history/

"Refocusing the Lens of Development: Towards Genetic Research Methodology" - http://tiny.cc/wflhnz