Correct Answer - Option 3 : temporary support in learning by adults
Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory of Learning:
- Vygotsky was a Russian psychologist who believed that social interactions play a key role in development. According to him, learning occurs when children interact with people and the environment.
- He asserted that the cognitive development of children is enhanced through social interaction with other people, particularly those who are more skilled.
- He explains this with the concept of the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD), which refers to a range of tasks that a child can achieve only with assistance from a more skilled adult or peer called the More Knowledgeable Other (MKO). Adult assistance is provided wherever necessary which is called Scaffolding.
Scaffolding is a teaching method that enables a student to solve a problem, carry out a task, or achieve a goal through a gradual shedding of outside assistance. Scaffolding literally means the structure which is made to support the work crew while a building is constructed or repaired.
- Scaffolding is when adults adjust the support to extend the child's current level of performance
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- Scaffolding refers to a technique that provides the right kind of support in the right amount at the right time to increase a child’s competence.
- In other words, it is a means by which a child's 'zone width' (or potential for new learning) can be assessed, i.e. scaffolding helps with providing support to learners in their initial phase of learning, which is in the right amount and gradually decreases as the learner progresses.
- As children are given assistance or shown how to perform certain tasks, they use this information as a guide on how to perform these tasks and eventually learn to perform them independently.
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Thus from the above-mentioned points, it is clear that scaffolding in the context of learning theories refers to temporary support in learning by adults.
