Question

Benjamin loves putting together puzzles. He has recently mastered putting together a 10-piece Sesame Street puzzle. His mother claps at his accomplishment but wants to continue challenging Benjamin just beyond his current abilities. The next time they play, she gives Benjamin a 15-piece puzzle and offers some guidance on how to sort the pieces out. According to Vygotsky, Benjamin's mother provides _____ that allows Benjamin's cognitive abilities to be built higher and higher.

Answer 1

Answer: Scaffolding

Explanation: Scaffolding is a technique used in order to achieve advanced learning of skills in a student or child, when someone who has already mastered those skills, i.e in the presence of a teacher, an advanced student or parent, needs to work with the child. In doing so, the difficulty of the tasks is gradually increasing, i.e the tasks are becoming more and more difficult and with individualised support from the teacher / parents. This is to gradually improve the skills of the student / child and all that is learned is to upgrade to previously learned knowledge and skills.