What is Scaffolding?
Scaffolding is a temporary platform constructed for reaching heights above arms’ reach for the purpose of building construction, maintenance, or repair. Scaffolding is generally made of lumber and steel and can range from simple to complex in design, depending on its use and purpose. Millions of construction workers, painters, and building maintenance crews work on scaffolding every day, and due to the nature of its use, scaffolding must be properly constructed and used to ensure the safety of those who use it. The U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Organization (OSHA) has very specific standards for the construction and use of scaffolding in the workplace, and many large commercial and government construction projects require all workers to have scaffold training and OSHA certification. Some of OSHA’s regulations regarding construction of scaffolding include using specific types of lumber when not using steel, weight limitations based on the design of the scaffold
The term ‘scaffolding’ comes from the works of Wood, Bruner and Ross (1976). The term ‘scaffolding’ was developed as a metaphor to describe the type of assistance offered by a teacher or peer to support learning. In the process of scaffolding, the teacher helps the student master a task or concept that the student is initially unable to grasp independently. The teacher offers assistance with only those skills that are beyond the student’s capability. Of great importance is allowing the student to complete as much of the task as possible, unassisted. The teacher only attempts to help the student with tasks that are just beyond his current capability. Student errors are expected, but, with teacher feedback and prompting, the student is able to achieve the task or goal. When the student takes responsibility for or masters the task, the teacher begins the process of “fading”, or the gradual removal of the scaffolding, which allows the student to work independently. “Scaffolding is actually
Scaffolding is an instructional technique whereby the teacher models the desired learning strategy or task, then gradually shifts responsibility to the students. What is its purpose? Scaffolding essentially means doing some of the work for the student who isn’t quite ready to accomplish a task independently. Like the supports that construction workers use on buildings, scaffolding is intended to be temporary. It is there to aid the completion of a task and it is eventually removed. How can I do it? • Task definition • Model performance while thinking out loud – either direct or indirect instruction • Specification and sequencing of activities • Provide prompts, cues, hints, links, partial solutions, guides and structures • Fade when appropriate How can I adapt it? • Pair advanced learners with developing ones • Engage students in cooperative learning. In this type of environment students help students in small group settings but still have some teacher assistance. This can serve as a s
As we voyage through the twenty-first century we embark upon new horizons in which our teaching methods have become dilapidated. As a result of this dilemma there has been a revolution in the teaching strategies used by educators to educate students. This revolution has evoked rejuvenation of some practices from Lev Vygotskys constructivist theory of social/cultural learning. Constructivists believe that learners must individually discover and modify complex and new information. One aspect derived from Vygotskys theory involves interaction in educational activities where an adult or more competent peer shares in the learning processes of children. This in turn, influences the learner to form higher levels of mental functions in task within their zone of proximal development. The focus of this website is to discuss scaffolding, a key idea derived from Vogotskys notion of social learning. Scaffolding has numerous definitions. If a novice were to hypothesize, they would remark that scaffo
