1.
Gain Attention
This step focuses on preparing students to learn by capturing their interest and curiosity. Here’s
what each method means:
Stimulate students with novelty, uncertainty, and surprise
Use unexpected or unusual elements to grab attention. For example, show a strange
object, share an amazing fact, or ask, "What would happen if the sun disappeared for a
day?" Such surprises spark curiosity and make students eager to learn more.
Pose thought-provoking questions to students
Ask open-ended questions that challenge students to think critically. For instance, "Why
do you think some animals can survive in extreme temperatures?" This engages their
minds and encourages participation.
Have students pose questions to be answered by other students
Allow students to ask their own questions and invite classmates to answer. This creates
interaction and peer learning. For example, after showing a picture of an unusual
machine, ask a student to question, "What do you think this machine is used for?"
Lead an ice breaker activity
Start with a fun, engaging activity to make students comfortable and focused. For
example, play a quick game like "Two Truths and a Lie" or ask students to share
something interesting about themselves. This builds rapport and sets a positive tone for
the lesson.
2. Inform Students of the Objectives
In this step, make sure students know what they will be learning and why it is important. Clear
objectives set expectations and guide students' focus.
Describe required performance
Let students know what they need to be able to do by the end of the lesson. For example,
“By the end of this lesson, you should be able to write a clear and well-organized
paragraph.”
Describe criteria for standard performance
Explain what successful completion looks like. For instance, “To achieve a high score,
your paragraph must have an introduction, supporting details, and a conclusion.”
Have learners establish criteria for standard performance
Encourage students to set their own standards for what quality work looks like. You
might ask, “What do you think is necessary for a good paragraph?” This helps them take
ownership of their learning.
Include course objectives on assessment prompts
Reinforce the learning goals by including them in assignments or quizzes. For example,
add a note at the top of a worksheet: “Objective: Identify and explain the main idea of
the passage.”
3. Stimulate Recall of Prior Learning
Help students connect new material with what they already know or have learned in the past.
This helps them make sense of new information.
Ask questions about previous experiences
Start with questions like, “Can you think of a time when you had to solve a problem
similar to this one?”
Ask students about their understanding of previous concepts
Bring up past lessons and ask questions such as, “What do you remember about
fractions?” This helps students activate their prior knowledge.
Relate previous course information to the current topic
Connect new content to something students have already studied. For example, if
teaching percentages, remind them of fractions they learned earlier.
Have students incorporate prior learning into current activities
Design activities where students apply what they’ve learned before. For example, ask
them to use a math formula they already know to solve a new type of problem.
4. Present the Content
Introduce the new material in a way that is clear and easy to understand. Use different teaching
strategies to make content engaging.
Present multiple versions of the same content
Teach the same idea in different ways, such as through a video, a lecture, a reading, or a
group discussion. This helps reach different learning styles.
Use a variety of media to engage students in learning
Incorporate visuals, audio, and hands-on materials. For example, show an educational
video or use infographics.
Incorporate active learning strategies
Get students involved through activities like group work, Q&A sessions, or problem-
solving exercises.
Provide access to content on Blackboard
Ensure students can review materials outside of class by uploading resources to an online
platform.
5. Provide Learning Guidance
Support students by teaching them strategies that will help them learn more effectively. Give
them tools and methods to master the content.
Provide instructional support as needed
Offer help in a step-by-step manner, gradually reducing support as students become more
skilled. For example, guide them through solving a math problem before having them do
it on their own.
Model varied learning strategies
Show students different ways to learn, such as concept mapping, using mnemonics, or
visualizing information.
Use examples and non-examples
Show what correct and incorrect work looks like. For instance, explain why one
paragraph is well-written and another is not.
Provide case studies, visual images, analogies, and metaphors
Use real-life examples or comparisons to make the material easier to understand. For
example, to explain the concept of supply and demand, compare it to a popular concert
where tickets sell out quickly.
6. Elicit Performance (Practice)
Allow students to practice what they have learned. This helps reinforce new skills and confirms
their understanding.
Facilitate student activities
Organize activities where students apply new knowledge, like discussions or
collaborative group work.
Provide formative assessment opportunities
Give students smaller quizzes or quick activities to test their understanding before a
major test.
Design effective quizzes and tests
Create assessments that focus on comprehension and application rather than just
memorization. For example, ask them to explain how they solved a problem instead of
just giving the answer.
7. Provide Feedback
Offer timely and specific feedback so that students know how they are doing and how they can
improve.
Confirmatory feedback
Let students know they did something correctly. For example, “Good job on solving that
problem!”
Evaluative feedback
Tell students if their work is correct but don’t explain how to improve. For instance,
“Your answer is accurate.”
Remedial feedback
Guide students to the correct answer without giving it away. For example, “Take a look
at this part of your work and see if it aligns with the formula we discussed.”
Descriptive or analytic feedback
Provide detailed suggestions. For example, “Your paragraph has a strong main idea, but
the supporting details could be more specific.”
Peer-evaluation and self-evaluation
Let students review their own work or each other’s. This can help them spot mistakes and
learn from them.
8. Assess Performance
Test to make sure students have met the learning objectives.
Administer pre- and post-tests
Use tests before and after a lesson to check what students learned and how much they
improved.
Embed formative assessments
Include activities like quizzes or oral questions during the lesson to check understanding.
Implement a variety of assessment methods
Use different ways of assessing students, such as projects, written assignments, or
presentations.
Craft effective rubrics
Make rubrics that clearly show what students need to do to achieve different levels of
performance.
9. Enhance Retention and Transfer
Help students keep the information they’ve learned and apply it to new situations.
Avoid isolating course content
Connect what students are learning now to past and future topics.
Incorporate questions from previous tests
Review past content regularly to strengthen memory.
Have students convert information into another format
Ask students to create a concept map or summary of what they learned to reinforce
connections.
Align learning activities with lesson goals
Make sure everything in the lesson relates back to the objectives, guiding students to
deeper learning.
