What does scaffolding in education refer to?

Scaffolding in education refers to offering temporary support structures to aid understanding. It involves providing personalized assistance to students as they learn new concepts and skills. This support is designed to help them progress beyond their current level of understanding and ultimately achieve independence in their learning.

The idea behind scaffolding is to break down learning into manageable parts while providing guidance that can be gradually removed as the learner becomes more proficient. This method allows students to build confidence and develop their skills without overwhelming them. As students demonstrate mastery in a particular area, the supports are slowly withdrawn until they are able to operate independently.

This approach is effective because it accommodates diverse learning needs and helps ensure that students do not feel discouraged by challenges, as they have a safety net during the learning process. It recognizes that students are at different levels and that support needs to be tailored to individual needs, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.