Scaffold, Then Fade

Help gets the task finished, but you want the person to become able to do it independently. Move from demonstration to guided attempts, then reduce prompts only when unaided work, later retention and a new context support that change.

Demonstrate. Guide. Withdraw a little. Try alone. Check later and elsewhere.

A scaffold carries part of the work while a person develops capability. Decide which operation they need to learn and keep meaningful effort with them. Move from demonstration through guided work to unaided attempts and delayed transfer. Reduce support only when those observations justify it, and retain appropriate accessibility or high-stakes support.

Try this when…

They can do it only while I prompt every step.

The assisted result looks better than the independent attempt.

I want the help to leave me more capable.

We removed support after one successful repetition.

What you can use it for

Tutoring

Graduate from worked examples to partial hints and fresh unaided problems.

Work onboarding

Move from joint execution to observation and independent responsibility.

Everyday skills

Let instruction support practice while checking that less help actually remains workable.