Understanding Scaffolding in Education

Teachers use scaffolding as an instructional method to provide students with successive levels of temporary support while they are meeting new learning objectives. Then, as students become more confident and independent, the teacher gradually reduces the support so that the learners become more capable and autonomous. The goal is to help the students achieve a task that they would not have been able to complete on their own, which helps educators bridge the gaps between the students current skill and the new learning objective.

Explain how scaffolding supports the acquisition of new skills.

What are common misconceptions about the use of scaffolding in education?

Provide a modern example of scaffolding in education.