Hierarchic: 4 Main Ideas

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2008 Edwin Ellis, All Rights Reserved Published by Makes Sense Strategies, LLC, Northport, AL www.MakesSenseStrategies.com

Makes Sense Sense Strategies Strategies Makes

Name:

Jerika Mofield
Is about

Date:

10/5/2013

Concept Attainment Model

Main idea Main idea

A teaching model designed to help students of all ages elaborate and reinforce their understanding of concepts and practice critical thinking.
Main idea Main idea

Planning

Implementing

Assessment

Motivation

1) Teachers must identify a topic they believe is important for their students to understand. Students prior experiences are important to consider when selecting topics. 2) Specify clear learning objectives. Students need to develop and elaborate concepts and practice critical thinking skills through hypothesis testing. 3) Select specific examples and nonexamples to support the learning objectives/topic. 4) Sequence examples and nonexamples so that students are given much practice with the process of hypothesis testing. Using the most obvious examples first will weaken the challenge and motivation. Make sure the sequences of examples matches the objectives of the lesson and backgrounds of the students.

1) Introduction- teacher thoroughly introduces the lesson and explains how the activity will be conducted. 2) Examples and hypothesizingstudents are presented with an example(s) and a nonexample(s). Then the students must hypothesize possible labels for the concept based off of the examples provided. Asking leading questions can help eliminate beginning confusion. 3) The analysis cycle- additional examples and nonexamples are given and students must eliminate existing hypotheses and add new ones based off of the new examples. Teacher guides the students and encourages them to put their thinking into words. 4) Closure and application- A single hypothesis is isolated and defined and additional examples are analyzed based on the definition. Concept mapping can be used in this stage.

*Teachers want to assess the learners understanding of the concepts, as well as their abilities to think critically.

*Teachers assess critical thinking by having students analyze pre-made hypotheses as they are presented with additional examples.
*Teachers can have students create unique examples of the concept to show their understanding. This is the most effective way to assess understanding. *The teacher wants the students to be able to define the concept, identify the concepts characteristics, identify relationships between the concept and closely related concepts, and create unique examples of the concept.

*These lessons are motivating because they are challenging. Students are presented with intellectual puzzles where they have to use clues to identify the concept. *Adds variety to instruction which keeps students motivated and interested. *Promotes interest, curiosity, and a sense of challenge. *Activity can be used in a group work setting which increases social interaction and motivation. *Increases student self-regulation and metacognition.

So what? What is important to understand about this?

This is a model that deepens students understanding of concepts they have had prior experience with and also deepens their understanding of closely related concepts. This model also develops critical thinking skills through hypothesis testing.