Scaffolding in Tourism Education: Enhancing Learning and Industry Readiness
Scaffolding in Tourism Education: Enhancing Learning and Industry Readiness
Minasyan Anna
Summary
Key words: scaffolding, Zone of Proximal Development, higher education in tourism, curriculum development․
This study examines the use of scaffolding as a means of enhancing the effectiveness of learning in specialized tourism courses within the higher education system of Armenia. The primary focus is on developing students' ability to apply theoretical knowledge in practice, fostering critical thinking, and enabling them to successfully complete complex tasks, including group projects.
Scaffolding methods were integrated into the Introduction to Tourism course, providing students with gradual guidance that progressed from structured support to the independent completion of tasks within their Zone of Proximal Development. The outcomes were evaluated through surveys, analysis of student feedback, and assessment of final group projects.
The findings demonstrate that scaffolding contributed to more effective organization and planning of project work, enhanced students' analytical skills, and promoted a deeper application of theoretical concepts. The final projects exhibited a high degree of organization and reflected advanced critical thinking.
The study concludes that scaffolding materials, when adapted to learners'needs and combined with active pedagogical guidance, significantly improvelearning outcomes, enhance students' readiness for professional practice, and assist instructors in designing practice-oriented tourism curricula.