In educational contexts, "scaffolding" refers to the process of providing temporary support to learners to help them achieve a task or develop a skill that they wouldn't be able to do on their own initially. It's a teaching technique that involves breaking down a complex task into smaller, more manageable steps and providing guidance, feedback, and support as the learner progresses.

There are several types of scaffolding commonly used in education:

Directive Scaffolding: In this type, the teacher provides explicit instructions, demonstrations, or models to guide the learner through the task. The teacher may offer step-by-step guidance, modeling each step before allowing the learner to attempt it independently.

Interactive Scaffolding: This type involves more interaction between the teacher and the learner. The teacher may ask probing questions, engage in dialogue, or provide prompts to encourage the learner to think critically and solve problems independently.

Structural Scaffolding: Here, the teacher organizes the learning environment or task in a way that supports the learner's understanding and completion of the task. This might include providing graphic organizers, outlines, or other visual aids to help the learner organize their thoughts and approach the task systematically.

Metacognitive Scaffolding: Metacognition refers to the ability to monitor and regulate one's own thinking processes. Metacognitive scaffolding involves helping learners develop awareness of their own learning strategies and how to use them effectively. Teachers may encourage reflection, self-assessment, and goal-setting to help learners become more independent and strategic learners.

Collaborative Scaffolding: This type involves peer interaction and cooperation. Learners work together to complete a task, with more experienced peers providing support and guidance to less experienced ones. Collaboration can help learners learn from each other and develop a deeper understanding of the task or concept.

Resource Scaffolding: In resource scaffolding, teachers provide learners with additional resources such as books, websites, multimedia materials, or other tools to support their learning. These resources can provide additional information, examples, or alternative explanations to help learners make sense of the task or concept.