What does "scaffolding" refer to in instructional design?

In instructional design, "scaffolding" refers to providing successive levels of temporary support to assist student learning. This teaching strategy involves offering support structures that help students gain independence in their learning. The idea is to give learners the necessary tools and assistance at the beginning of their learning process and gradually remove those supports as they become more capable and knowledgeable.

Scaffolding can take various forms, including modeling, guided practice, prompts, feedback, and eventually allowing students to self-direct their learning. This approach not only helps students understand complex concepts but also builds their confidence and ability to solve problems independently. By strategically designing these support levels, instructors can foster a more effective learning environment tailored to the needs of each student, enabling them to progress at their own pace.

The other choices illustrate different concepts in education but do not accurately describe scaffolding. For instance, analyzing aviation regulations pertains to compliance and legal understanding rather than instructional support, while using complex terminology may confuse students instead of aiding their understanding. Assessing prior knowledge, although important, is not the same as scaffolding, which is focused on ongoing support throughout the learning process.