STeLLA® teaching strategies for explaining, identifying, and engaging science concepts¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · no claims cited

Description¶

STeLLA® trains teachers in instructional strategies emphasizing three areas: explaining science concepts using accurate descriptions, analogies, visual displays or models, and other representations that minimize student misconceptions; clearly identifying to students the science concepts used in learning activities, including establishing a learning goal with a central question or objective and selecting activities matched to the objective; and engaging students in thinking about science by asking questions to elicit and challenge student ideas and predictions and engaging students in interpreting data and applying concepts to new contexts.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Teachers first become familiar with the strategies at the summer institute by watching videos of experienced teachers using them in science lessons, then practice using the strategies in planning and delivering science instruction in their own classrooms

Constraints¶

Target Learners¶

• Elementary science teachers

Target Learning Goals¶

• Minimizing student misconceptions
• Supporting students to communicate in scientific ways

Affordances¶

• Stella Professional Development Program

Related Strategies¶

• Repeat Key Points
• Use Multiple Representations
• Pictures & Visuals

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

• What Works Clearinghouse, Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education. (2021, May). Science Teachers Learning through Lesson Analysis (STeLLA®). https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/wwc/InterventionReport/716