what involves a parent or teacher adjusting the level of guidance to fit the child’s performance?
The correct answer and explanation is:
The concept described is called Scaffolding.
Explanation:
Scaffolding is a teaching and parenting technique derived from Lev Vygotsky’s social constructivist theory of learning. It involves a more knowledgeable person (like a parent or teacher) providing temporary support or guidance to a learner as they work on a task they cannot complete independently. The key characteristic, as highlighted in your question, is that this support is adjusted based on the child’s performance and growing competence.
Initially, when a child is new to a task or skill, the scaffolding might be quite intensive. This could involve providing direct instructions, modeling the activity, breaking down complex steps, or offering significant physical assistance. As the child begins to grasp the concepts and perform better, the level of support is gradually reduced or “scaffolded down.” The helper might then move to providing only hints, asking guiding questions, offering prompts, or simply providing encouragement while allowing the child to attempt more of the task on their own.
The purpose of scaffolding is to help the child operate within their Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) – the space between what they can do alone and what they can do with help. By providing just the right amount of support, the parent or teacher enables the child to succeed at tasks that would otherwise be too difficult, preventing frustration and promoting learning. As the child masters skills and their performance improves, the support is withdrawn entirely, allowing the child to perform the task independently. This dynamic, responsive adjustment of guidance is the core of the scaffolding process, tailoring assistance precisely to the child’s current level of understanding and ability.