Teaching Concepts and Principles

Concept

• A class of stimuli that have common attributes.

• Is it a concept?

2 Types of Concepts

• Concrete– common physical

attributes

– one can IDENTIFY

• Defined– given an example with

a definition

– one can CLASSIFY

Presentation Method Strategies

• Inductive Approach– parts to whole – learner experiences self-discovery

• Deductive Approach– whole to parts– learner given definition and expected to find

examples of concept

Teaching Strategies - Concepts

• Write a 5-component behavioral objective

• Check for prerequisites

• Presentation (inductive or deductive)

• Practice with the concept

• Test for knowledge of concept

Tests for Knowledge of Concepts

• Name examples of the concept

• Describe the properties of the concept

• Select examples of the concept

• Solve problems using the concept

Principles (Rules)

• Two or more concepts in a logical relationship which allows us to:– explain– infer causes– predict– control – solve

Principles (Rules)

• Principles may be stated in an “if…then relationship:

• If water is heated, then it will evaporate.

• If you reinforce desirable behavior, then you increase the likelihood of the behavior occurring in the future.

• If you place the poles of a magnet in close proximity, then they will repel each other.

Teaching Strategies - Rules/Principles

• Write a 5-component behavioral objective

• Check for prerequisites

• Presentation (inductive or deductive)

• Practice with the rule/principle

• Test for knowledge of the rule/principle

Tests for Knowledge of Rules

• Name examples of the rule

• Describe the properties of the rule

• Select examples of the rule

• Solve problems using the rule

From Designing Effective Instruction 4th Ed., Morrison, Ross, & Kemp, 2004.