Carlos Hilado Memorial State College

Talisay City, Negros Occidental

Topic: How to use Prior knowledge in instruction

Subject: EDFLCT
Reporter: Riena Jane R. Adriaga Program: BTLED HE-2A
Instructor: Prof. Aljaven Bruce C. Laganhon Sem and AY: 1st sem. 2021 - 2022

I. Introduction:
Students are not blank slates on which teacher’s words are inscribed. The students bring more to
interpretation of the situation rather than teachers realize. Activating prior knowledge is like
preparing the soil before sowing the seeds of knowledge says Jim Cummins. By tapping into what
students already know, teachers help with the learning process. This is because learning is relating the
new information, or concepts, to what we already know.

II. Content:
A. Commonly Used strategies to activate prior knowledge
1. Graphic Organizers
2. Conceptmaps
Concept maps are visual representations of information. They can take the form of charts, graphic
organizers, tables, flowcharts, Venn Diagrams, timelines, or T-charts. Concept maps are especially
useful for students who learn better visually, although they can benefit any type of learner. They are a
powerful study strategy because they help you see the big picture: by starting with higher-level
concepts, concept maps help you chunk information based on meaningful connections. In other
words, knowing the big picture makes details more significant and easier to remember.
3. KWL Chart
K-W-L charts are graphic organizers that help students organize information before, during, and after
a unit or a lesson. They can be used to engage students in a new topic, activate prior knowledge,
share unit objectives, and monitor students’ learning.

4. Anticipatory guides

An anticipation guide is a comprehension strategy that is used before reading to activate students'

prior knowledge and build curiosity about a new topic. Before reading, students listen to or read
several statements about key concepts presented in the text; they're often structured as a series of
statements with which the students can choose to agree or disagree. Anticipation guides stimulate
students' interest in a topic and set a purpose for reading.

5. Learning Grids

Learning grids help students to focus on the content and language learning outcomes of a unit and to
monitor their own progress. They also provide immediate feedback to teachers on student learning,
enabling teachers to plan teaching to meet the students' identified learning needs.

6. Brainstorming

Brainstorming is a method design teams use to generate ideas to solve clearly defined design
problems. In controlled conditions and a free-thinking environment, teams approach a problem by
such means as “How Might We” questions. They produce a vast array of ideas and draw links
between them to find potential solutions.
III. Activity:

IV. Evaluation:
Answer the following question in essay form.
1. How does prior knowledge help you when learning something new?
2. How do you develop students prior knowledge?

References:

Developing Metacognition. ERIC Digest. (ericdigests.org)