FTCE Professional Education Practice Exam

What does the term 'scaffolding' refer to in an educational context?

1. Breaking down tasks into manageable steps.

2. Providing high-stakes testing opportunities.

3. Facilitating peer mentoring sessions.

4. Conducting standardized assessments.

The correct answer is: Breaking down tasks into manageable steps.

The term 'scaffolding' in an educational context specifically refers to the instructional technique of breaking down complex tasks into smaller, more manageable steps to support student learning. By breaking tasks into segments, educators help students build on their prior knowledge and gradually develop their skills and understanding. This method allows students to tackle challenging content more effectively, as they receive the support needed at each stage of their learning process. In contrast, high-stakes testing, peer mentoring, or standardized assessments do not embody the concept of scaffolding. High-stakes testing focuses on assessing student performance and potentially shaping educational policy, while peer mentoring sessions are more about collaboration among students rather than structured educational support. Standardized assessments are tools used to measure student achievement uniformly, rather than guiding learning through supportive measures like scaffolding does. Thus, breaking down tasks facilitates a more guided and supportive learning environment, making it the correct interpretation of scaffolding in education.