What Is Scaffolding in Teaching?

"A set of training wheels on a bicycle is a classic example of scaffolding. It is adjustable and temporary, providing the young rider with the support he or she needs while learning to ride a two-wheeler. Without an aid of this sort, the complex tasks of learning to pedal, balance and steer all at one time would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, for many youngsters. This scaffold -- training wheels --allows the learners to accomplish a goal, riding a bicycle successfully, and then to happily pedal his or her way into the wider world." -- Michael F. Graves, Bonnie Graves and Sheldon Braaten, "Scaffolded Reading Experiences for Inclusive Classes"

Scaffolding can also include breaking a large task into smaller parts, verbalizing cognitive processes, working in peer groups or prompting. As the student begins to work independently, the teacher removes all or some of the scaffolding.

Teachers must be familiar with the students' abilities in order to apply scaffolding successfully.

Scaffolding can be used at any level of education (K-12 and beyond) and in any discipline, but it requires detailed planning on the part of the teacher.

The benefits of scaffolding include more motivated learners, more time spent on learning with less on searching and a greater chance of learners acquiring the desired skill.

The concept of scaffolding was first discussed in a landmark 1976 article by David Wood, Jerome Bruner and Gail Ross titled "The Role of Tutoring in Problem Solving."