What is Instructional Scaffolding (IS)? According to Dr. Hope Hartman, "scaffolds" – the kind used in construction – are "temporary structures" provide physical support to workers while they work on jobs off the ground that would "otherwise be impossible." The scaffolds are two-pronged in their application: they give workers a place to conduct their work activities, and also help workers "reach work areas that they could not access on their own" standing on the ground level.
             That having been pointed out, Hartman explains that "instructional scaffolding" is a teaching strategy that was "cleverly named for the practical resemblance it bears" to the physical scaffolds just described that are used for building and construction projects. The instructional scaffolding strategy engages students collaboratively in tasks that lend assistance to the learning process. When new skills are needed, but the tasks are too difficult to master on their own, students embrace instructional scaffolding, to help students "build their understanding of new content and process," Hartman continues.
             The "temporary scaffolding provided by the instructor" is removed as soon as the students "internalize the content and/or process" and are competent to assume "full responsibility for controlling the progress of a given task," Hartman explains. And moreover, there are two major steps involved in IS; one is the creation of instructional plans that will "lead the students" from what skills they hitherto have mastered into a "deep understanding of new material." And those scaffolding plans must be carefully presented, in a way that "each new skill or bit of information that the students learn" can provide a logical next step, "based upon what they already know or are able to do." To go along with this first step, t...