How to Create Mental Velcro in Your Classroom

PLUG INTO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE: one of 33 Hacks in Hacking Instructional Design, by Michael and Elizabeth Fisher

THE PROBLEM: PRIOR KNOWLEDGE IS NOT ALWAYS ENGAGED

One of our largest educational conundrums is deciding what, how, and why students need to learn, and making sure we’re moving in a logical direction as we guide them. We can utilize the greatest resources in the world, but unless we’re connecting to previous learning or experiences, we’re not taking advantage of the neural pathways in a student’s mind.

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Prior knowledge exists outside of standards, outside of grade-level expectations, outside of assessments, and outside of the numerous pedagogical ideas we’re sharing in this book—but it is a vital piece of any student’s education.

If we want learning to stick, we need to anchor it in a way that allows students to build on their existing foundations, using their prior knowledge.

THE HACK: PLUG INTO PRIOR KNOWLEDGE

Students grow neural pathways when new learning builds on knowledge that already exists in their brains. Plug students into their own brains to figure out where to start. You don’t put a roof on a house with no walls or foundation, right? You lay the foundation first; the same theory is true in the classroom….

For the rest of of Hack 7, listen to the podcast episode, embedded above.

For 32 more Hacks from Michael and Elizabeth Fisher, check out Hacking Instructional Design

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Author: Hack Learning Team

The Hack Learning Team brings you right-now solutions for teaching and learning from some of the best educators in the world. Look inside our library at http://hacklearningbooks.com