The Concept of Scaffolding in Educational Theory

Who proposed the concept of scaffolding in educational theory?

Lev Vygotsky

Answer:

The concept of scaffolding is attributed to Russian psychologist Lev Vygotsky, who proposed the sociocultural theory of development.

The concept of scaffolding in educational theory can be attributed to the Russian psychologist Lev Vygotsky. His sociocultural theory of development emphasizes the importance of interactions between children and more knowledgeable members of society in the learning process. Vygotsky's framework suggests that when a child has assistance, they can achieve tasks that they would not be able to complete independently, an idea that is central to the concept of scaffolding. This instructional approach involves providing support structures to facilitate the learner's development. As the learner's abilities increase, the support can be gradually removed, which is analogous to scaffolding being removed from a building once it is no longer needed.