Explaining a new topic using Rosenshine’s principles

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In this blog post, we propose 3 learning techniques to support educators in the application of Rosenshine’s Principles of Education, while explaining a new topic to your students.

This previous blog post provides a brief introduction to Rosenshine’s Principles.

1) ABC brainstorm

Activating prior knowledge makes space for new information and helps create better brain connections. According to the research of education specialists John Hattie and Robert Marzano, new notions are better absorbed by the brain if we take some time to revise previous learning beforehand. Revising is therefore essential.

To implement this learning technique, we suggest dividing your students into groups of 2 or 3. Indicate the new topic, theme, or subject, without further explanation, and ask them to write down a word, phrase or sentence concerning the topic: one for each letter of the alphabet. Together, they are challenged to help each other and come up with words, phrases or sentences for as many letters as possible.

2) Zoom in

This learning technique enables students to focus on details, and on drawing conclusions. Each time students are offered small zoom-ins of a bigger picture, one by one, like the pieces of a puzzle. They are repeatedly prompted to ask relevant questions and draw their own conclusions, until the original image is revealed.

With this learning technique learners experience how ‘thinking’ is a living process, which changes and matures each time the brain is offered a new piece of information.

Each new piece of the puzzle (image) is accompanied by a new question, such as:

• What do you see?
• What stands out?
• Does this new piece of information complete the picture?
• Do you have more questions?

To get the most out of this learning technique, you need to select a complex picture with a lot of detail. The main goal is for students to ask relevant questions about it.

3) Interactive images (with hotspots)

People are generally good visual learners, and observing a meaningful image is always an interesting experience. A nice picture captures the attention of your students. This is one of the reasons why classroom walls are often crammed with posters and visual material, fighting to capture students’ attention and ignite their curiosity.

Hotspots (highlighted parts of an image with a clickable textual window) offer you a number of advantages. You can add a lot of information to any part/detail of an image, without creating a textual overload.

Students study the image and read the information within the hotspots at their own pace. This leaves you with ample room for differentiating your learning material based on your students’ needs. In some cases, there is so much information that it is comparable to reading a booklet. Without being aware of it, students absorb the load.

Free white paper

For more information on practical ways to implement all Rosenshine’s principles during your lessons, download our detailed white paper with 12 learning techniques.

Free webinar about Rosenshine’s principles

Don’t miss a free webinar hosted by our education specialist, Thomas Courtley, on 2nd May 2023. Learn how you can embed the principles of Instruction directly into your teaching.
Register here now.

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