WORKED EXAMPLES

November 20, 2016

What are Worked Examples?

WORKED EXAMPLES:  This principle emphasizes the need to have a Step By Step Example of how to complete a particular lesson or task.  I recall reading many elementary school math textbooks as a child.  However whenever learning a new principle, I focused primarily on the worked examples and how the answer was achieved.  I would then attempt to duplicate those steps in a new math problem.  This will often be the practice of many students.  For this reason, we should always incorporate a worked example in our presentations when it is appropriate.  Worked Examples can assist in developing procedural skills or strategic skills.


WORKED EXAMPLES DEMONSTRATED (or not)

The Khan Academy is a well known site that offers instruction on every academic subject from Math to Language Arts to Social Studies and Science.  They cover lessons from the first grade all the way to college level material.   They use worked examples for all of their math lessons.  This particular demonstration provides instruction on procedural skill of how to solve a division problem.

4th Grade Math Long Division

Kahoot is an excellent tool to use when searching for ways enhance instruction.  Teachers can use this to review lessons on a variety of topics.  They can create their own assessments or find one that already exists and students have a wonderful time doing it.  On their site is a demonstration of how to create a Kahoot however I think that they could have broken the steps down a little more.  They also provide suggestions prior to creating your Kahoot such as researching your topic and incorporating fascinating images.  However the student made tutorials on YouTube break down the steps even better when creating their own tailor made Kahoot.

The example below provides a procedural example for teachers.  This particular demonstration focuses on how to manage a classroom.

Classroom Management Techniques

REFERENCES

Clark, R. C., & Mayer, R. E. (2011). E-learning and the science of instruction: Proven guidelines for consumers and designmers of multimedia learning. San Francisco: Pfeiffer

https://getkahoot.com/how-it-works