- Published on
by Dr. Heather Tracy, Ed.D.
Process-based scaffolding is a key competent of Supportive Immersion. It is based on Lev Vygotsky's Zone of Proximal Development which asserts that we learn within a zone that is not too comfortable (aka boring) but not overwhelmingly outside of our comfort zone that it causes us to shut down.
In other words, the Process-Based part of PBS connects with our students and figures out where they are in the learning process, which mental models they have created, and the Scaffolding part of PBS determines what kind of structure and support students need in order to collaboratively engage in a novel learning experience that challenges and expands previous mental models. This is empowered learning.
Once we know where our students are (empathic connection), facilitators can design the experiences that structure and support a student to engage in more complex ways of interacting with a problem or issue at hand. This is collaborative empowerment. We provide the learning experience that can empower a student to take on the complex perspectives to solve real-world and relevant problems.
So why is this helpful? Oftentimes, facilitators who are overly focused on structure can be rigid and miss opportunities to empathically connect to meet a student where they are to facilitate engagement in learning. On the flip side, facilitators who are overly empathic can over-accommodate and therefore miss opportunities to structure learning experiences that push learners outside of their comfort zones enough to actually grow into more complex learners and problem-solvers.
Finding a balance between empathy and scaffolding can create the most rewarding growth and learning experiences. This not only helps our students grow, but we too (as facilitators) grow.
It reminded me how, in many real-world contexts, effective scaffolding means knowing when to step in and when to pull back. The “balance” really becomes a matter of timing, observation, and trust — offering just enough support to build confidence without taking over the process.
I’m curious: in your view, what are the signals or cues you look for to know when the scaffolding (metaphorical or literal) is ready to come down?
Thanks for sharing such thoughtful insights!