Which term describes temporary support provided by a more knowledgeable other to help a learner perform a task they cannot yet do alone?

• A. Direct instruction
• B. Independent practice
• C. Scaffolding
• D. Negative feedback

Answer: (C)

The key idea here is providing temporary help from someone more skilled to bridge what a learner can do alone to what they can do with support. This is scaffolding. In practice, a teacher or caregiver might model a task, offer hints or prompts, or guide the child through a step-by-step process, then gradually reduce that support as the child becomes more capable. The goal is to enable the learner to perform the task independently in time.

This differs from direct instruction, which is explicit, teacher-led teaching of steps without the same emphasis on fading help. Independent practice means the learner does it on their own after the skill is in place, and negative feedback focuses on pointing out mistakes rather than providing the adjustable guidance that helps a learner reach the next level. Scaffolding specifically centers on that temporary, supportive bridge to independence.