There is a five step process for teaching in this week's science module that may be of interest to those in other content areas. I will try to present it in a manner that suggests its applicability across the curriculum. It's best summarized as "the five E's."
1. Engage. An activity that creates interest, raises questions, accesses prior knowledge, generates perdictions about what might happen or be true.
2. Explore. An activity that has students working together without direct instruction in order to pursue questions and predictions raised during the Engagement phase. Students puzzle through a problem while the teacher limits herself to asking probing questions as appropriate.
3. Explain. Teacher provides formal explanations and definitions, using students' previous experiences when possible. Students explain concepts in their own words with accuracy the goal.
4. Elaborate. Students apply new knowledge in new situations, asking questions and checking with one another for clarity and understanding. Teacher observes and coaches as necessary.
5. Evaluate. Teacher assesses students' knowledge and use of new concepts and skills. Students assess their own learning and group processing skills.
Note that direct instruction comes at the third stage, not the first. Consider the value of this, with engagement and exploration activities preceding the teacher's formal presentation or modeling of necessary explanations and definitions.
--Dr. James Lee, Saint Joseph's University
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