Contextualizing Instruction

How To Do It
Gaining attention Novelty, uncertainty, surprise
Pose questions of learner
Have learner pose questions to be answered by instruction
Relating instructional goals to learners' needs Explain purpose or relevance
Present goals for learners to select
Ask learners to state own goals
Have learner pose questions to be answered
Stating outcomes of instruction Describe required performance
Describe criteria for standard performance
Have learner establish criteria
Present advance organizers Verbal: establish context
Comparative: relate to familiar content
Pictorial: Maps, graphics, pictures, tables
Present structured overviews Outline content
Graphic overviews/organizers
Combinations
Adapt context To learner preferences
To prior knowledge

 


© Albert L. Ingram, Ph.D. Revised: February 13, 2008