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:

Manley Ray Hilburn

Is about

Date:

September 25, 2013

Guided Discovery
Main idea Main idea

It is an approach to instruction in which the teacher presents students with examples of a specific topic and guides students to an understanding of that topic.
Main idea Main idea

Planning

Implementing

Assessment

Motivation

The first step is to identify the topic things such as textbooks, curriculum guides or other sources can help with this. The teacher should have clear learning objectives that help frame the students thinking, planning and implementing of the lessons. The learning objectives should be so that the students can identify the characteristics of the concept and generalize the main ideal. Learning objectives will allow for the students to be able to describe the relationship that occurs between the concepts in the generalization. The teacher should prepare non-examples and examples. This can help students with concepts that are closely related.

The Guided Discovery model has four phases. Phase 1 involves the getting the students attention and to establish focus upon the lesion. Phase 2 the teacher gives the student with an example and encourages observations and comparisons of the example. Phase 3 the teacher ask a scaffolding question to guide the students to an understanding of the concept or generalization. Phase 4 involves the teacher guiding the students to a definition of the concept of a statement of the generalization, and the students apply their understanding in a new context. Focus needs to be on content learning objectives. Students development of critical thinking is an integral part of the process. Students should be able to provide evidence for their conclusions.

Teachers should make sure the learning objectives and assessment are aligned for the guided discovery strategy. The students are being informally assessed by the teacher during the lesion. The formal assessment of the students would come in the form of students creating their own examples. Assessment is used as a tool in this strategy to ensure and increase students learning and motivate them. Two important things are part of assessing the students with this strategy. First, the assessment/ task item must measure more than the students recalling the information and knowledge. Second, detailed feedback and discussion of the item are essential.

The Guided Discovery Model allows the increase of student motivation. Due to the fact that the lesson will feature high levels of involvement, assured success, and a sense of the unknown, these aspects allow the students to be more motivated towards the subject. Involvement is a major factor with this model and increases the participants interest in the activity. Like with Phase 2, openended questions allow teachers to call on a number of students quickly and since success is assured, students are more willing to answer and get involved. Students are often motivated about things that are mysterious. Activities that are mysterious evoke curiosity, challenge and a sense of the unknown.

So what? What is important to understand about this? The Guided Discovery model allows for students to connect relatively close concepts of the topic that was chosen and better understand what they are learning. The guided discovery allows students to be more motivated in being successful in participating in the activity and more willing to answer the open-ended questions the teacher asks.