Joseph Luebbe

EDUC 526
November 29, 2014
Using Concept Attainment to Teach Sustainability
Section I- Description of the Method
1. Instructional method: When and why would you utilize this method?
a. The Concept Attainment Model is an inductive strategy that should be used
when teaching a concept (e.g. sustainability) and there are multiple attributes
involved with this concept. In this model, the focus is on the learner to
determine attributes of a concept that has been preselected by the teacher.
b. The reason for using this method is because our brain naturally groups
together like characteristics. Students are asked to analyze both yes examples
and no examples of the concept, creating groups both consciously and
subconsciously. Engaging students is a fundamental principle of the Concept
Attainment Model.
2. Topic and Rationale: why would this topic be taught in this way? Give two other
examples of topics that could be taught this way.
a. Sustainability is a concept that has clear principles, many of which the
students are already familiar with. However, the connection between these
characteristics and how they apply to sustainability may be unknown. Also,
just how important of a role geography plays in agriculture and sustainability
may be unknown.
b. Manifest Destiny and Civilization are two concepts that could be taught
using the Concept Attainment Model.
3. Features and Purposes: what are the principal purposes of this method?
a. The purpose of the concept attainment model is to help students gain an indepth understanding of a particular broad concept. Another purpose is to
engage students at high levels and teach them how to organize information
surrounding a concept.
4. Advantages and Disadvantages: what are two advantages and two disadvantages of
this instructional strategy?
a. One advantage is that it uses a grouping process that is naturally occurring in
our brain (whether we realize it or not) making it more natural for students to
learn about a concept. Another advantage is that it specifically calls for the
active participation and engagement of the students.
b. One disadvantage to this model is that some students prefer direct-instruction
and can frustrate those students who would simply prefer to be told the
definition of the concept. Another disadvantage is that it is something that

takes time to establish in a classroom. This can give teachers a heavier

workload.
Section II- Implementation of the Method
1. Just the content objectives.
a. SWBAT define sustainability and explain how an individuals actions may
influence sustainability by creating a concept model listing attributes and nonattributes of sustainability and apply it to their community as well as creating
a propaganda poster to promote sustainability in Fort Collins. (CDE
Geography 2f)
2. The materials you would use.
a. Physical world maps, physical U.S. maps, physical Northern Colorado maps,
laptops, a smart board, the geography textbook, poster boards and markers.
3. The model you chose and why?
a. I chose the Concept Attainment model because it uses processes that naturally
occur in our brain to group various concepts. It requires active participation
from the students, as it is an inductive model. Finally, sustainability is a
concept that students might not be familiar with, but holds characteristics that
they are already familiar with.
4. The key terms or concepts the students must know.
a. Geography
b. Physical map
c. Quality of life
d. Economy
e. Equity
f. Ecosystems
g. Natural disasters
h. Subsidies
5. What background knowledge must your students know in order to learn new
material?
a. Students should be familiar with characteristics of agriculture and what it
looks like. Students also need to be generally familiar with how geography
affects agriculture. Students should be familiar with what kind of crops are
grown in Colorado or whatever state or region they are most familiar with as
well as major land forms in that area (i.e. mountains, rivers, etc.).
6. The assessment how you will measure whether your students met their objective?
a. Students will be assessed by the quality of their graphic organizer. Students
will also be grouped up and asked to determine ways we can increase
sustainability in our own home and in our community. Each group will

discuss this and finally create a propaganda poster calling for a change in our
community.