
They help students develop new skills, using scaffolding techniques to build on what students have already mastered. The presence of a more knowledgeable other, usually a teacher, is a key element of scaffolding and helps students move the zone of proximal development. For one student, this could be the difference between mastering two-digit multiplication and struggling with multiplying decimals. The zone of proximal development (ZDP) is the distance between what students can accomplish on their own and what they need help with. Scaffolding in education is built on the idea of a zone of proximal development, first theorized about in the 1930s by Soviet psychologist Lev Vygotsky. Scaffolding and the zone of proximal development Strategies like “ think-pair-share” and jigsaw groups (where small groups are responsible for learning and teaching part of the lesson) are tried-and-true methods for effective collaboration.Īccording to one study, using a range of different supports in your instruction can help students, especially English language learners, effectively engage with grade-level objectives and content. Interactive - Collaborative learning is an important part of the classroom, whether it’s between teachers and students or among students.
#Scaffold meaning teaching how to#
Guide students through how to read them for maximum effectiveness.

In education, scaffolding is an instructional method teachers use to show students how to solve problems, offering support as they need it.
