What effect does scaffolding have on student learning?

Scaffolding is an educational approach that involves providing temporary support to students to help them achieve a deeper understanding of complex concepts. The idea is to break down learning into manageable parts and provide assistance at each step, enabling students to build confidence and skill as they progress.

By offering structured support, scaffolding allows learners to engage with material in a way that is attainable and supportive, facilitating their journey toward independent mastery. This approach encourages critical thinking and problem-solving, as students are guided in navigating challenging content. Over time, as students gain proficiency, the support can gradually be removed, allowing them to tackle similar tasks independently.

In this context, scaffolding ultimately enhances student learning by creating a framework where learners can explore ideas and concepts more deeply, rather than relying on rote memorization or surface-level understanding.