Organize instruction thematically with a thematic organizer rather than presenting knowledge piecemeal¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · no claims cited

Description¶

Wholetheme teaching structures instruction around an overarching theme so students can 'reflectively develop intuitive knowledge of the whole before focusing on the parts'. A thematic organizer provides a visual context for learning opportunities, allowing students to relate their experience to the theme and internally construct thematic knowledge. The paper proposes this as the instructional application of multisource, dynamic learning.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• An overall theme established for the learning that will occur
• a thematic organizer providing visual context

Constraints¶

• The paper presents this as a proposal for K-12 classrooms, not as a tested intervention

Target Learners¶

• K-12 students

Target Learning Goals¶

• thematic knowledge construction
• reflective learning across multidisciplinary content

Affordances¶

• Wholetheme Constructivism Biofunctional Cognition

Related Strategies¶

• Interdisciplinary Unit Built on a Student's Household Knowledge

Examples¶

-

Key Sources¶

• Heflich, David A. & Iran-Nejad, Asghar. (1995). Reflective Educational Practice from the Perspective of Wholetheme Constructivism. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED393851