Concept Learning StrategiesInstructional Design

By:Cassandra MobleyJuly 2, 2013

CONCEPT LEARNING

• Concept Learning is a branch from the Intellectual Skills based in R. Gagne’s Learning Outcomes. (Smith & Ragan, 2005)

CONCEPT LEARNING

INTELLECTUAL

SKILLS

Gagne’s Learning Outcome

• Gagne’s Learning Outcomes five categories are; verbal information (declarative knowledge), intellectual skills, cognitive strategies, attitudes and psychomotor. (Smith & Ragan, 2005)

VERBAL INFORMATION

INTELLECTUAL SKILLS

COGNITIVE STRATEGIES ATTITUDES

PSYCHOMOTOR

SKILLS

INTELLECTUAL SKILLS

• According to Gagne Intellectual Skills are a hierarchy which consist of discriminations, concepts, principles (relational rules), procedures and problem solving.

Intellectual

Skills Discrimination

Concepts

Principles

Procedure

Problem Solving

Hierarchy of Intellectual Skills

Discrimination

Concepts

Principles

• The ability to distinguish the difference through the senses (visual, auditory, tactile, taste and smell)

• (Smith & Ragan, 2005)

• The ability to put objects into group, categorizing or assimilating

• (Smith & Ragan, 2005)

• The ability to apply natural laws or relationships between objects

• (Smith & Ragan, 2005)

Hierarchy of Intellectual Skills

Procedure

Problem Solving

“Learners must be able to make a discrimination

among objects before they can identify concrete

concepts. They must have acquired the concept that are used in the rules, and

they have acquired the rules they will combine in

unique ways to create domain-specific problem

solving.”

•The ability to apply the order of operation or processes

• (Smith & Ragan, 2005)

•The ability to apply the application of rules

• (Smith & Ragan, 2005)

• (Smith & Ragan, 2005, pg81)

INTELLECTUAL SKILLS EXAMPLE

• If we consider acquiring the idea of colors…The learn must learn to tell one color from another (discrimination), then they begin to put same colors together (concept)which leads to an understanding between different colors (principal/laws regarding colors), how colors are made(procedures) and finally having the ability to distinguish light and dark colors which are the same color(problem solving)

INTELLECTUAL SKILLS GAMES

DEFINATION OF CONCEPTS“A concept is a set of specific objects symbols or events which are grouped together on the basis of shared characteristics and which can be referenced by a particular name or symbol.” (Smith and Ragan, 2005, pg.172)

Concrete Concepts- the learner

assimilates objects based on physical characteristics.

Abstract (Defined) Concepts- objects

are assimilated by defined list.

(Smith & Ragan, 2005)

CONCEPT LEARNING

STRATEGIES• Gagne stated “The requirements of adequate preparedness

for a new learning are different for each of the five kinds of learning outcomes: intellectual skills, information, cognitive strategies, attitudes, and motor skills (Gagne, 1980)

He further stated regarding new learning through intellectual skills “rules and concepts are typically composed of simpler rules and concepts, and the new learning in fact has the character of combining components simpler skills into more complex ones. (Gagne, 1980)

Therefore when applying concept learning with an inquiry approach the learner would “induce or discover the concept underlying the instances” (Smith & Ragan, 2005)

STRATEGIES CONT.

• An example of this application is the Sesame Street son

“One of These Things is Not Like the Other” which is also an analogies.

One of These Things is Not Like the Others

Analogies can be used for abstract and concrete concepts because they require the learner to relate prior knowledge and assist with grouping of characteristics.

STRATEGIES cont.

• Concept Tree is a representation of an idea as it relates to other ideas. These can be illustrated through Prezi, Bubbl or any mind mapping tools. The learner’s representation my appear as the following:

References

• Smith, P.L. & Ragan, T.J. (2005) Instructional design 3rd edition. Wiley & Son, Hoboken, NJ

• Gagne, R. M. (1980). Preparing the learner for new learning. Theory Into Practice, 19(1), 6.

• GAMES

• http://www.lumosity.com

• Pogo (2013) Poppit. Electronic Arts Retrieved 7/3/2013 from http://www.pogo.com/games/poppit

Graan, B (2012). Mahjong solitarie version V17. Mahjonged.com