Defining Concepts: Gagne defined concepts as classes or categories of things. Concepts are a collection of "things" that have the same attributes.
Concrete Concepts: objects that have physical characteristics (examples - island, triangles, oceans, periodic elements, trees, flowers, mamals)
Abstract Concepts: objects that are logically defined or constructed (examples - freedom, exploration, love)
Concepts aid learners in making generalizations about the relationships between two or more objects.
It is imperative that the teacher carefully analyze any concept that he or she is planning to teach. In order to communicate clearly to your learners what the concept is, what its attributes are, and what constitutes an example or nonexample, the teacher needs to have an unshakably clear grasp of the concept.
Directions: Use this learning aid to analyze a concept that you may be teaching in your instructional design project. Share your concept analysis with a peer or your professor.
1. Name the concept:
2. Define the con concept:
3. List the critical attributes of the concept:
4. List any non-critical attributes that are related to the concept:
5. Select examples that highlight the critical attributes of the concept:
6. Select the nonexamples that are closely related to the concept and that will address potential misunderstandings:
Sample Concept Analysis
1. Name the concept: Quadrilateral (concrete in nature)
2. Define or state the rule for the concept: A plain, closed, four sided figure
3. List the critical attributes on the concept: (same as above - this is common with con concrete concepts)
4. List any non-critical attributes that are related to the concept: Quadrilaterals can be classified based upon the characteristics of their sides or angles.
5. Select examples that highlight the critical attributes of the concept:
- Trapezoid: quadrilateral with one pair of parallel sides.
- Parallelogram: quadrilateral with two pairs of parallel sides
- Rectangle: quadrilateral with a right angle (and consequently, four right angles)
- Square: quadrilateral (rectangle) with all sides having equal length.
- Rhombus: Quadrilateral with all sides having equal length.
6. Select the nonexamples that are closely related to the concept:
- Triangle: plain, closed, three sided figure.
- Circle: plain, closed, 360 degree figure
- Hexagon: plain, closed, six sided figure.
Extension Activity: (Think About It): How might you use presentation software to teach this concept? Sketch out several slides to illustrate one of the presentation techniques (direct, Taba, attainment) modeled in class.
Teaching Concepts
There are two primary ways to teach concepts, inductive and deductive. The following charts illustrate the process.
| Deductive Teaching: When teaching a concept is to present the name of the concept, then the rule or definition of the concept. Next one could present the examples and non-examples. | Inductive Teaching: When teaching concepts using an inductive method one presents the examples and non-examples first and then proceeds to have the learner discover the rule or definition along with the critical attributes. |
| Direct Presentation of a Concept | Concept Attainment Strategy |
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