After observing that students are struggling to proceed further on an ongoing activity, a teacher decides to provide cues and hints in form of what, why, how. According to Lev Vygotsky’s theory, this strategy of teacher will

The correct answer is: act as a scaffold for learning.

Explanation:

According to Lev Vygotsky's socio-cultural theory of cognitive development, learning is a social process where guidance from a More Knowledgeable Other (MKO) helps learners achieve higher levels of understanding.

Key Concept - Scaffolding:

Scaffolding refers to a temporary support system provided by teachers, peers, or adults to assist a student in mastering a task that they cannot complete independently. As the student gains competence and confidence, this support is gradually withdrawn.

In this context, when the teacher provides cues, hints, and prompts ("what, why, how") to students who are struggling during an activity, the teacher is offering temporary guidance. This acts as a scaffold to help students bridge the gap between what they can do alone and what they can achieve with assistance (within their Zone of Proximal Development or ZPD).

Why other options are incorrect:

• Demotivate the children to learn: Providing hints encourages problem-solving and engagement rather than demotivating students.
• Cause withdrawal tendency among students: Supportive cues build confidence and prevent frustration or withdrawal.
• Be meaningless in process of learning: Guidance plays a central and meaningful role in Vygotsky's learning model.