In scaffolding, what does progressive fading of supports refer to?

In scaffolding, what does progressive fading of supports refer to?

• A. Gradually reducing assistance as the learner demonstrates independence
• B. Increasing support over time
• C. Keeping support constant regardless of progress
• D. Replacing supports with testing sessions

Answer: (A)

Progressive fading of supports means gradually reducing the level of assistance as the learner demonstrates increasing independence. In scaffolding, you provide targeted help—such as prompts, cues, modeling, or guided steps—to help a learner perform a task. As performance improves and mastery shows, you withdraw those supports step by step, encouraging the learner to rely more on their own skills and problem-solving. This gradual withdrawal helps internalize the learning and promotes transfer to independent practice, aligning with the move from guided help toward autonomy. Increasing support would create dependence, keeping support constant stalls growth, and simply replacing with testing sessions doesn’t describe the withdrawal of help that builds independence.

Progressive fading of supports means gradually reducing the level of assistance as the learner demonstrates increasing independence. In scaffolding, you provide targeted help—such as prompts, cues, modeling, or guided steps—to help a learner perform a task. As performance improves and mastery shows, you withdraw those supports step by step, encouraging the learner to rely more on their own skills and problem-solving. This gradual withdrawal helps internalize the learning and promotes transfer to independent practice, aligning with the move from guided help toward autonomy.

Increasing support would create dependence, keeping support constant stalls growth, and simply replacing with testing sessions doesn’t describe the withdrawal of help that builds independence.