It is a challenge to provide the correct amount of guidance without providing too much direction. Direction is needed to help learners identify areas of difficulty but too much direction detracts from their sense of ownership of the learning project. Kolb's Experiential Learning cycle Kolb found that people learn in four ways with the likelihood of developing one mode of learning more than another. The idea that people learn in different ways has been explored over the last few decades. Kolb found that individuals begin with their preferred style in the experiential learning cycle.
Teacher gradually reduces direction and support as the learner increases in maturity and confidence.
A Guide to learning independently Open University Press, Buckingham. Raahem, K and Wankowski, J 1981 Helping students to learn at University Sigma Forlag, Bergen, Norway.