Developed by Lev Vygotsky (Thought and Language, 1934), with the scaffolding of David Wood, Jerome Bruner, and Gail Ross (The Role of Tutoring in Problem Solving, 1976).
Locates the band between what a learner can do alone and what they can do with skilled help, where support teaches the most.
When to reach for it
When coaching or onboarding someone and choosing how hard a stretch assignment should be and how much support to give.
How it runs
- Assess what the person can do unaided.
- Identify what they could do with support.
- Coach within that band.
- Withdraw support as competence grows.
- Reassess and move the band up.
Where it sits in SOLVE eX
Go to the source
- Thought and Language, 1934
- The Role of Tutoring in Problem Solving, 1976