Instruction Model - Concept Development

Overview

Concept development mirrors natural thought processes. Students will have the opportunity to express their thoughts and compare them to the expressions of others. This develops the students' abilities to think effectively and, when practiced in a group, think more flexibly.

When to Use Concept Development

This instructional model is useful when helping students to develop concepts that they have begun to understand. As students develop the model, they are also developing an internal model that will help them later.

Steps in the Concept Development Model

1. List as many items as possible that are associated with the subject.
2. Group the items according to likeness.
3. Label the groups by defining the reasons for grouping.
4. Regroup individual items or whole groups under other groups.
5. Summarize the data and form generalizations.
6. Assess students' ability to generate a wide variety of items and group them flexibly.

Credits

Adapted from pg. 97-102, Gunter, Estes, Schwab, Instruction, a Models Approach, 4th Edition, 2003, Allyn and Bacon

Other Resources

Gunter, Estes, Schwab, Instruction, a Models Approach
Author unknown, Model for Developing Concepts.

Citation

David E. McAdams. Instruction Model - Concept Development. 9 August 2007. Life is a Story Problem.org. URL: http://www.lifeisastoryproblem.org/lesson/mdl_conc_devel.html.