Scaffolding: Applications to learning in technology-supported environments.

Scaffolding is a form of temporary support offered to a learner to assist in the process of becoming a skilled practitioner. Traditionally, the most common form of learning has been an apprenticeship, where a novice learns through active participation in a task, initially only peripherally, and then assuming more control and ownership. Originating in the socio-cultural perspective of Vygotskyan theory and developed by later theorists, the concept of scaffolding has been extended by practical applications in technology-based environments. As the World Wide Web becomes increasingly integrated into the delivery of learning experiences at primary, tertiary and secondary levels, the concept of scaffolding needs to be redefined because it is not readily translated into contexts where the teacher is not present, as in on-line environments. This calls for a reconsideration of the nature of scaffolding and for the alignment of theory with practice.