What does scaffolding in education refer to?

Scaffolding in education refers to temporary support that helps students master concepts. This instructional strategy is based on the idea of providing various levels of support tailored to a student's needs as they develop understanding and skills. Just as construction scaffolding supports workers as they build a structure, educational scaffolding provides learners with the guidance they require to progress through their learning tasks. This can encompass a range of techniques, such as providing hints, breaking tasks down into smaller, manageable steps, and gradually removing assistance as students become more proficient and confident.

This approach is important because it allows students to engage with challenging material in a way that is accessible, ultimately fostering independence in their learning as they gain competence. Over time, as students advance and their understanding solidifies, the scaffolding can be removed, enabling them to tackle similar tasks autonomously.