Why Explicit Instruction?

Summary

The video script emphasizes the importance of explicit instruction in education, which is direct and unambiguous teaching aimed at ensuring student understanding. It clarifies misconceptions about explicit instruction versus discovery learning, suggesting a continuum rather than a dichotomy. The script highlights that explicit instruction is particularly beneficial for novice students and those learning new subjects, as well as for struggling students. It outlines the design and delivery of explicit instruction, advocating for a structured approach involving demonstration, guided practice, and checking for understanding. The necessity of deliberate, spaced practice, and interactive teaching methods is also discussed, concluding with the importance of maintaining the 'teach' in 'teacher' to support student success.

Takeaways

• 📚 Explicit instruction is direct and unambiguous teaching aimed at ensuring student understanding and learning.
• 🔍 The concept of explicit instruction is often misunderstood and should be seen as part of a teaching continuum rather than an either/or choice with discovery learning.
• 👨‍🎓 Novice learners and those encountering new subject matter greatly benefit from explicit instruction to build foundational knowledge and skills.
• 🧩 Explicit teaching is particularly effective for students who are struggling, as they require clear guidance more than the opportunity to discover concepts on their own.
• 📈 The design of explicit instruction involves selecting important content, breaking it into manageable parts, and organizing lessons for optimal learning.
• 👩‍🏫 A key pedagogical approach in explicit instruction includes demonstration, guided practice, and checking for understanding, often summarized as 'I do it, we do it, you do it'.
• 💡 There is a common misconception that practice in explicit instruction is 'drill and kill', but research supports the necessity of deliberate and spaced practice for cognitive development.
• 🔁 The practice should be purposeful, allowing students to retrieve and apply information, enhancing their learning and retention.
• 🤝 Interactive engagement is crucial in explicit instruction, with teachers actively involving students and providing immediate feedback throughout the lesson.
• ⏱ Maintaining a lively pace during instruction helps keep students attentive and promotes an effective learning environment.
• 🌟 Explicit instruction lays the groundwork for students to tackle real-world problems, generalize knowledge, and apply what they've learned in various contexts.

Q & A

What is explicit instruction?

Explicit instruction is direct and unambiguous teaching with the goal of ensuring students understand and learn the material presented.

Why is there confusion around the term 'explicit instruction'?

There is confusion because it is often seen as being in opposition to discovery learning, creating a false dichotomy between the two approaches.

How does explicit instruction relate to discovery learning?

Explicit instruction and discovery learning should be viewed as a continuum, with explicit instruction being particularly beneficial for novice learners or when introducing new knowledge.

What is the role of explicit instruction for novice learners?

For novice learners, explicit instruction is crucial as it provides clear guidance and structure, helping them to understand and master new knowledge or skills.

How does explicit instruction benefit struggling students?

Struggling students benefit significantly from explicit instruction because it provides clarity and direct teaching, which they may have missed out on, leading to their struggles.

What are the two areas of explicit instruction mentioned in the script?

The two areas of explicit instruction mentioned are the design of the instruction and the delivery of the instruction.

What are the three major steps in teaching children skills and strategies as mentioned in the script?

The three major steps are demonstration, guided practice, and checking for understanding, often referred to as 'I do it, we do it, you do it.'

Why is deliberate practice important according to the script?

Deliberate practice is important because it allows students to practice with a purpose, spaced over time, and to retrieve information, which enhances learning and retention.

How should explicit instruction be delivered to be effective?

Effective explicit instruction should be interactive, with students actively engaged throughout the lesson, and maintain a perky pace with continuous feedback and monitoring of student responses.

What is the ultimate goal of explicit instruction as per the script?

The ultimate goal of explicit instruction is to prepare students to solve authentic problems, be successful, and generalize information to other situations.

What does the speaker emphasize about the importance of explicit instruction in a teacher's role?

The speaker emphasizes that teachers should not forget the research on explicit instruction and must provide the teaching that students need to achieve learning goals.