Home › Education & Pedagogy › Teacher Roles & Mentorship › scaffold

scaffold

SKAF-ohld /ˈskæfoʊld/

verbnounC2UPSCTOEFL

academictechnical

To provide temporary support while a student is learning a new task, gradually removing it as they become more independent.

In education, this is a specific technique where the teacher provides just enough help for the student to reach the next level.

The story behind the word. Originally referring to the temporary wooden platforms used by builders to reach high places, the term was adopted by psychologists like Jerome Bruner to describe how teachers support students.

Word relationships

support: Support is general; scaffolding is a specific, temporary educational strategy.

Word family

scaffolding (noun): The temporary structure or support system.

Collocations

instructional scaffolding
scaffold a lesson
provide a scaffold

Example sentences

"The teacher used scaffolding to help the students understand complex algebraic equations by breaking them into smaller steps." Educational theory.

Memory hook

Just as builders use a scaffold to reach the top of a house, teachers use a scaffold to help students reach the top of a concept. Temporary support for growth.

When not to use

Don't use it for permanent help; the essence of scaffolding is that it is eventually taken away.

Fun facts

The concept is closely related to Lev Vygotsky's 'Zone of Proximal Development'—the gap between what a learner can do alone and what they can do with help.

Related words

mentorship, protégé

Explore more words

scaffolding, facilitate, differentiate, individualize, facilitator, formative