Anne Murphy Paul: Why Floundering Makes Learning Better | TIME Ideas | | Eclectic Technology | Scoop.it
Call it the "learning paradox": the more you struggle and even fail while you're trying to master new information, the better you're likely to recall and apply that information later.

Providing too much scaffolding, guidance, structure - call it what you will - "early on, until the students or workers show that they can do it on their own — makes intuitive sense, it may not be the best way to promote learning. Rather, it’s better to let the neophytes wrestle with the material on their own for a while, refraining from giving them any assistance at the start."