What term is used to refer to the support given to students for them to arrive at the correct answer?

The term "scaffolding" refers to the strategy of providing temporary support to students as they develop new skills or knowledge. This educational approach enables learners to achieve tasks they cannot complete independently by offering structured assistance. As students gain competence, the support is gradually removed, fostering independence in their learning process.

Scaffolding involves breaking down learning into manageable steps and providing the necessary resources or hints to help students connect prior knowledge with new concepts. This tailored support encourages problem-solving and critical thinking, and it helps to build confidence in students as they progress.

The other terms, while relevant in educational contexts, do not encapsulate the same instructional strategy. Assistance and guidance can imply general help, but they do not specifically connote the systematic approach of gradually removing support as proficiency grows. Coaching typically involves ongoing mentorship and feedback but doesn't specifically focus on the incremental support structure inherent in scaffolding.