Concept Learning

 

(creating classes of objects or events that share one or more similarities)

 

 

Concepts include things like:

 

              Facts and definitions

 

              Categories

 

Principles and rules

 

              Skills

 

Values


 

 

 

Concepts

 

 

 

Schemas                                        Scripts

 

Declarative                                      Procedural

Knowledge                                      Knowledge

 

Network of                                     Sequence of

associations                                     condition-actions

 

Ex. “book”                                      “read a book”

       “loyal”                                           “eat out”


 

Steps for learning schema-type concepts

 

1.  Define features; give a definition

                            

2.  Provide a good example with defining features

3.  Contrast positive vs negative instances                

4.  Vary irrelevant features during practice

 

5.  Have learner articulate the defining features

       (a concept map is helpful for structural

         understanding)

 

6.  Have learner identify new instances

 

7.  Have learner propose own instances     


Steps for learning script-type concepts

 

1.  Model the script with narration

 

2.  Divide script into parts and do scaffolded practice with coaching.

 

3.   Practice whole to mastery with feedback.

 

4.  Vary situation for practice in conditional knowledge.

 

 

 

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