Activating prior knowledge is an important part of quality teaching. Each student brings varied understandings to the table when they try to learn new information. Students who lack background knowledge may struggle to incorporate new ideas into their current understandings. Consider the student who moves into your History class from another state, and has no idea of the history of Georgia. Or think of trying to teach Geometry to a student who cannot multiply. As good teachers, we must activate what students know already (prior knowledge, or schemata) to allow them to learn new information.
Read the Web resource I have provided concerning schema and instructional strategies. Then write a 1-2 page paper in which you address each of these prompts thoroughly:
1. Describe the concept of “schema” (plural “schemata”) in terms of students and learning. How does it relate to prior knowledge and/or previous learning?
2. How can students’ existing schemata affect their learning in the classroom?
3. As a classroom teacher, what are some ways you can help your students incorporate new learning into their existing schemata? List three.
Web Resource:
Last Completed Projects
| topic title | academic level | Writer | delivered |
|---|