Explaining the Skill or Concept
Set goals for your explanation.
Define success in terms of what you want
the students to be able to do.
Teach toward your measure of success.
Avoid the “enemies of understanding,”
mistakes that make learning difficult.
GOALS FOR EXPLANATION
ENEMIES
OF UNDERSTANDING
STRATEGIES
FOR SUCCESS
When the students finish the lesson, they should understand something that they previously did not understand, or they should be able to do something that they previously could not do.
For example, you may want them to be able to
- define a term
- summarize a set of guidelines
- compare and contrast two pieces of equipment
- evaluate the merits of two polices or procedures
- solve a problem
- identify the cause of an event
interpret a case study or hypothetical occurrence
WHAT’S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE?
Before you begin to write the explanation, write the test that you want
students to pass when they have finished the lesson. Be specific.
Make sure that the test requires the students to do exactly what you want
them to be able to do to demonstrate that they understand the ideas or
have acquired the skills.
When you have written the test, then you can teach toward the test.
With your test questions in mind, you will find that you can focus on teaching what the student needs to pass the test.
You’ll be less likely to
- shortchange the student by teaching too little
- bore the student by teaching too much
- distract the student by teaching irrelevant information
| GENERAL GOAL | SPECIFIC TEST QUESTION | |
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| define a term | Define procrastination. Use it in a sentence. Write a brief anecdote about an example of procrastination. | |
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| summarize a set of guidelines | Create a wallet-size card with a summary of the procedures for safe disposal of commercial dry-cleaning fluid. | |
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| compare and contrast pieces of equipment | Write a 250-word comparison of the VHS and DVD formats for readers of a consumer magazine. Prepare a chart that shows the ten most significant points of comparison and contrast. | |
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| evaluate the merits of policies or procedures | Write an evaluation of the social and financial effects of the state lottery, including its impact on the personal finances of various socio-economic groups and on the state budget. Conclude with recommendations for the future of the lottery program. | |
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| solve a problem | Your company has generous maternity-leave and paternity-leave policies. Several unmarried employees have have complained that these policies discriminate against them. How would you respond? | |
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| identify the cause of an event | (a) Identify the causes of soil erosion. (b) Explain the process by which each cause results in erosion. (c) Explain what measures can be taken to counteract each cause. | |
ENEMIES OF UNDERSTANDING
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