Tools for Teaching Conceptual Understanding, Secondary
Designing Lessons and Assessments for Deep Learning
Foreword by H. Lynn Erickson and Lois A. Lanning
Corwin Teaching Essentials
Students become experts and innovators through Concept-Based teaching
Innovators don’t invent without a deep understanding of how the world works. With this foundation, they apply conceptual understanding to solve new problems. We want our students to not only retain ideas, but relate them to other things they encounter, using each new situation to add nuance and sophistication to their thinking. To do this, they need conceptual understanding.
This book serves as a road map for Concept-Based teaching. Discover how to help students uncover conceptual relationships and transfer them to new situations. Specifically, teachers will learn:
- Strategies for introducing conceptual learning to students
- Four lesson frameworks to help students uncover conceptual relationships
- How to assess conceptual understanding, and
- How to differentiate concept-based instruction
Look no further. For deep learning and innovative thinking, this book is the place to start.
"The authors tear down the false dichotomies of traditional vs innovative education and provide a practical toolkit for developing creativity and applying knowledge through Concept-Based learning. Every practitioner needs this book to juxtapose what worked well in the 20th Century with what is essential in the 21st Century and beyond."
Michael McDowell, Superintendent
Ross School District, Ross, CA
"While most good educators recognise the incredible value of teaching conceptually, it is challenging. The authors have created accessible, practical baby steps for every teacher to use."
Dr. Vincent Chan, principal
Fairview International School, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Free resources
Teaching Students to Learn Conceptually
Use the guidance in this section from Tools for Teaching Conceptual Understanding, Secondary, to begin a conversation with your students about how this type of learning might be different from what they are accustomed to doing.
Balancing Conceptual Thinking, Skills Practice, Memorization, and Review
This excerpt from Tools for Teaching Conceptual Understanding, Secondary, makes the case for conceptual learning and debunks the myth that simply covering the material will cause students to retain it.
"Stern tears down the false dichotomies of traditional vs innovative education and provides the clarion call and practical tool kit for developing creativity by building and applying knowledge through Concept-Based learning. Every practitioner needs this book to juxtapose what worked well in the 20th Century with what is essential in the 21st Century and beyond."
"If you are ready to have students really learn, get ready to be amazed. Here is the complete guide to creating your very own concept-based classroom. I have never read a book filled with so many great ideas that can be used in any classroom."
"This book is as essential to a teacher utilizing concept-based teaching as the approach of concept-based learning is essential to teaching."
"I can't recommend this book enough! Exceptionally practical pedagogical techniques that are steeped in bags of authentic research. Addressing how children learn, how teachers can plan lessons within a conceptual framework, specific and useful differentiation techniques and feedback methods--so many meaningful and highly effective ways to move learners forward, preparing them for the future in a meaningful way."
"This book addresses the need for students to learn critical dispositions and skills which go beyond traditional discipline knowledge and are essential for student success as innovators in the 21st century."
"While most good educators recognise the incredible value of teaching conceptually, it is challenging. Julie Stern, Krista Ferraro and Juliet Mohnkern have created accessible, practical baby steps for every teacher to use."
“The authors of Tools for Teaching Conceptual Understanding have crafted an incredible resource for teachers in secondary education. This book provides a strong rationale on the importance of concept based curriculum development in the classroom for the 21st century. The book delivers a framework on how to build a concept based classroom from the ground up, offering practical, easy-to-apply tools and techniques that will allow teachers to redesign their curriculum in a rigorous way, while providing a classroom environment of deep learning. From developing great lesson plans to on-point assessments that target conceptual understanding, this book is an incredible resource for classroom teachers”.
“Perhaps the most significant question every educationist asks today is how to meet the needs of all learners in a classroom. Conceptual learning teaches for deep understanding, and enables students to find patterns and make connections thus providing intellectual dignity. In the section on differentiation, there are clear action steps with examples as support for reaching out to all students. A must read for all those committed to concept-based teaching and instruction!”
"Julie Stern has truly “drilled down” the concept-based framework, providing an understandable guide for teaching and assessing conceptual understanding. It should be a “go to” resource for every teacher!"
"Stern’s method provides a lucid framework to deepen conceptual understanding. Building upon the foundation laid by Erickson and Lanning, this approach provides tangible strategies for classroom teachers to nurture deeper learning."
