What is scaffolding in early childhood?
I think "someone" is being sarcastic and suggesting that you do some research to help you understand the term. However, sometimes it's hard to understand the definitions in text books. Maybe this will help: "scaffolding" is the support provided by adults working with a child to help promote and extend development of knowledge and skills. It can mean asking appropriate questions to help extend a child's thought process, or providing suitable activities to help a child learn through hands-on activities. Look it up in your textbook and read the definition and apply it to my explanation above for a deeper understanding, and don't be afraid to ask your instructor questions like this! That's what s/he is there for!
What is metacognition?I know it's about thinking about how you think, but it's too broad. Better definition?
Strategies for Reflecting on Learning Processes Metacognition, or "thinking about how a person thinks," is one of the most important tools for lifelong learning. People versed in metacognition understand the power of asking themselves “why” and seeking answers to that question in a multitude of scenarios. These people are the epitome of life-long learners, and one goal of many schools is to produce life-long learners. Thus, student metacognition, or a student’s ability to analyze his or her own learning and progress, is becoming increasingly important in many schools. This week, we offer tips in encouraging student learning through metacognition. It is reflecting on your study skills. Say you got a D on your last test. You reflect on what did to prepare yourself for a test. Than you change around your strategies a bit and than you get a B on your next test. You reflect on what you did differently and think about whether or not it worked and adjust from there. You are basically monitoring your study habits and what works for you and what changes need to be made. In terms of English. Say you write a term paper. It takes you forever to write and you only get a C. Well first you reflect on your researching. Figure out ways to cut down your research time also better ways to find research materials. Also you reflect on how you wrote the term paper. Did you start with outline, etc. In short being aware, reflecting, and adjusting the way you learn and how you get from point a to b.