Home | How It Works | Stats Login | Register         Case: Scaffolding or building foundation? It is interesting how we are eager to run with new terms in education. A few years ago the new buzz word was scaffolding. A parent who is an educator once asked the teacher for her child; "how do you scaffold for the students?" The teachers response was sharp. "I don't... I am building foundation." Was the teacher correct in his response, considering the original meaning of scaffold as borrowed from building construction? ( A temporary platform used to hold up workers and material during building). Solution: (Rates are posted for this solution!) Scaffolds are meant to be removed while foundations are meant to be permanently built upon. Without a foundation, all scaffolding is unsteady. Therefore, if a teacher is truly building a foundation for students, it is not appropriate to be teaching students advanced ideas. If the students do not have necessary background or experience, they cannot be expected to use content in complex or far-reaching ways. A solid foundation must come first.