Scaffolding
Although Vygotsky did not himself use the term "scaffolding", the term has come to represent his work as an associated teaching strategy based on the Zone of Proximal Development. Like the ZPD, scaffolding assumes that the students' learning is supported in order for them to move ahead to address subsequent more advanced concepts and to construct new knowledge.
Scaffolding can be described as "a variety of instructional techniques used to move students progressively toward stronger understanding and, ultimately, toward greater independence in the learning process" (Glossary of Educational Reform, 2015). Like the physical notion of scaffolding, these techniques are used to help students reach the next level of learning, and removed when no longer needed as the student may progress independently. This is a continual process which allows students to continue building on previous knowledge to construct new cognitive meaning and deeper learning.
Scaffolding can be described as "a variety of instructional techniques used to move students progressively toward stronger understanding and, ultimately, toward greater independence in the learning process" (Glossary of Educational Reform, 2015). Like the physical notion of scaffolding, these techniques are used to help students reach the next level of learning, and removed when no longer needed as the student may progress independently. This is a continual process which allows students to continue building on previous knowledge to construct new cognitive meaning and deeper learning.
Scaffolding in Online Learning
Scaffolding can be especially important in an online context