Hierarchic: 4 Main Ideas

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Name:

YeVonne Patterson
Is about

Date:

10/8/2013

Concept Attainment Model

Main idea Main idea

A strategy designed to teach concepts and promote critical thinking. It is designed to help students of all ages reinforce their understanding of concepts and practice hypothesis testing.
Main idea Main idea

Planning

Implementing

Assessment

Motivation

Identifying Topics- consider students background knowledge when selecting concept Specifying Learning Objectivesinclude developing concepts and students understanding, giving practice with critical thinking by forming and testing hypothesis- clear learning objectives with essential characteristics. Selecting Examples and NonExamples- examples are chosen so that all of the positive examples contain the essential characteristics and noine of the non-examples do. Put examples in context. Non-examples should help students differentiate the concept from closely related concepts. Sequencing Examples and NonExamples- Examples should be arranged so that students are given practice with the hypothesis testing process. Make it challenging and do not present most obvious examples first.

Introduction- use familiar topic first timeinitially prompt students and explain Presenting Examples- present an example and non-example (dont have to be closely related) Generating Hypothesis- ask students to hypothesize possible concept names The Analysis Cycle- presenting examples and non-examples, then the analysis of the hypothesis based on the new examples (can include generating new hypotheses accepting/rejecting/modifying existing hypothesis) The cycle repeats until one hypothesis is isolated. Teacher should refrain from judgment. Ask students to explain why they accept or reject hypothesis. Closure- ask students to identify the essential characteristics of the concept, state a definition, and link it to a closely related coordinate concept (can show relation using concept mapping) Application- students classify teacher generated examples as positive/negative.

Assessment- test students understanding of concepts by having students classify or produce additional examples: identify essential characteristics or related the concept to coordinate concepts. Test critical thinking by having learners analyze hypotheses in light of additional concepts. Assessing thinking always involves simultaneous assessment of content understanding.

Motivation- Concept attainment activities are intellectual puzzles in which students use clues to identify the ideas the teacher has in mind. This can increase intrinsic motivation. C-A lessons can induce curiosity and a sense of challenge. Also, adds variety to a classroom. Modifications- can be used with younger children by making the topics and examples concrete and decreasing emphasis on nonexamples.

So what? What is important to understand about this?

This strategy requires a classroom environment in which learners feel free to share their thinking without fear of embarrassment. Allows students to practice scientific method in other content areas and promotes critical thinking.