Instructional Strategies for
Engaging Learners
Reading Center Training
Theme: Connections to the Classroom
Instructional Planning
Instructional Strategies for Engaging Learners by Amy Holcombe, Ph.D.
Focusing On the Familiar
One of the most effective ways to make
information meaningful is to associate
or compare the new concept with a
known concept, to hook the unfamiliar
with something familiar.
Pat Wolfe (2001)
Instructional Strategies for Engaging Learners by Amy Holcombe, Ph.D.
Activating Strategies
The purpose of an activating strategy is
to focus learning by activating prior
knowledge. This can be done by
activating sensory receptors: sight,
sound, smell, taste, touch. It can also
be achieved by tapping in to students'
emotions.
Instructional Strategies for Engaging Learners by Amy Holcombe, Ph.D.
Cognitive Strategies
The purpose of cognitive strategies is to
provide a structure for learning that
actively promotes the comprehension
and retention of knowledge through the
use of engaging strategies that
acknowledge the brain's limitations of
capacity and ability to process
information.
Instructional Strategies for Engaging Learners by Amy Holcombe, Ph.D.
Rehearsal
Rehearsal performs two functions:
1. Maintains information in short-term
memory.
2. Mechanism by which we transfer
information to long-term memory.
Instructional Strategies for Engaging Learners by Amy Holcombe, Ph.D.
Information Processing Model
Rehearsal
Sight
Sound
Smell
Taste
Touch
R
E
C
E
P
T
O
R
S
Sensory
Memory
Modified from Pat Wolfe, 2001
I
N
I
T
I
A
L
P
R
O
C
E
S
S
I
N
G
Working
Memory
E
L
A
B
O
R
A
T
I
O
N
&
O
R
G
A
N
I
Z
A
T
I
O
N
Long-Term
Memory
Retrieval
Instructional Strategies for Engaging Learners by Amy Holcombe, Ph.D.
Summarizing Strategies
Summarizing strategies are used to
promote the retention of knowledge
through the use of engaging strategies
designed to rehearse and practice skills
for the purpose of moving knowledge
into long term memory.
Instructional Strategies for Engaging Learners by Amy Holcombe, Ph.D.
No matter how well planned,
how interesting, stimulating, colorful or
relevant the lesson,
if the teacher does all the
interacting with the material,
the teacher's -- not the students -brain will grow.
Pat Wolfe (1996)
Instructional Strategies for Engaging Learners by Amy Holcombe, Ph.D.