Instruction on Instruction
"I am not a teacher but an awakener."
The Purpose of Instruction
The purpose of the Instruction is to close the gap between what people already know and what they need to know in order to perform the module objectives.
In "Making Instruction Work," Robert F. Mager proposes the following formula for determining the content (in this case, the Instruction):
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What needs to be known |
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(minus) – |
What is already known |
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(equals) =
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What needs to be taught |
To determine what content to include in your Instruction, first review your objectives for one module.
Ask yourself:
"What prevents the student from already practicing the objective?"
- Does the student need to know common errors to avoid?
- Does the student need to know a procedure?
- Are examples necessary?
- Does the student need to read theory, history, or basic concepts?
- Does the student need to acquire factual information?
Did I remember to:
- Discuss the relevance of the module to the student?
- Clarify how this module fits into the big picture?
- Provide logical guidelines, or a clear model, for competent performance?
- Describe or demonstrate "how to"?
- Offer specific alternatives that address diverse learning styles?
The Purpose of the Warm-up Activity
“Learning is most often figuring out how to use what you already know in order to go beyond what you currently think.“
Warm up activities are intended to help the students take stock of what they already know, and to mentally prepare to use it.
According to the Cognitive psychologist, Jerome Bruner, students will learn more if you alert the brain to go find prior schemas or scaffolding that the new information can be attached to. The warm up activity should help provide a context for the learner and get people excited about what they are about to learn.
Topic 4 |
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Instruction
on Instruction