The Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) is a concept in educational psychology that 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. The term "proximal" refers to those skills that the learner is "close" to mastering. The ZPD is the zone where instruction is the most beneficial, as it is when the task is just beyond the individuals capabilities. The ZPD was developed by Soviet psychologist and social constructivist Lev Vygotsky. The ZPD can be broken down into three stages: tasks the learner can do without assistance, tasks the learner can do with assistance, and tasks the learner cannot do even with assistance. The idea behind the ZPD is that a more knowledgeable person can enhance a students learning by guiding them through a task slightly above their ability level. This process is known as scaffolding, and it consists of the activities provided by the educator, or more competent peer, to support the student as they are led through the ZPD.