Scaffolding theory: High challenge, high support in Academic Language and Learning (ALL) contexts

Scaffolding is a term frequently used by tertiary educators and especially in the field of Academic Language and Learning (ALL), but it is often not clearly understood or adequately theorised. It originates from Vygotsky’s (1978) theories of social learning: the view that learning takes place in social environments through interaction with peers and more knowledgeable others. Although the term was introduced by Woods, Bruner and Ross (1976), it...