ISSUE:
Students learn more effectively when they already know something about
a content area and when concepts in that area mean something to them and
to their particular background or culture. When teachers link new information
to the student's prior knowledge, they activate the student's interest
and curiosity, and infuse instruction with a sense of purpose.
Alice Moses, Program Director of the National Science Foundation,
talks about the importance of building on children's prior knowledge by
incorporating hands-on experiences in science instruction. [Audio file,
243k] Excerpted from the video series Restructuring to Promote Learning,
videoconference #2: The Thinking Curriculum (NCREL, 1990).
OVERVIEW:
Students learn and remember new information best when it is linked to relevant prior knowledge. Teachers who link classroom activities and instruction to prior knowledge build on their students' familiarity with a topic (Beyer, 1991) and enable students to connect the curriculum content to their own culture and experience.
Alice Moses, Program Director of the National Science Foundation, calls
on students' prior knowledge during a third-grade science lesson on magnetism.
[QuickTime slide show, 720k] Excerpted from the video series Restructuring
to Promote Learning, videoconference #2: The Thinking Curriculum
(NCREL, 1990).
Teachers can use class discussions
By tapping their students' prior knowledge in all subject areas, teachers can plan lessons that will: clarify incomplete or erroneous prior knowledge, determine the extent of instruction necessary in a particular topic area, and discern necessary adjustments to planned independent activities and assessment materials. (Kujawa and Huske, 1995)
Teachers also can use prior knowledge to make instruction more meaningful. Many researchers (Peshkin, 1992; Protheroe & Barsdate, 1992; & Lee, 1992) emphasize the importance of incorporating parallels between a student's cultural background and the curriculum's design. As the world changes, students must learn to understand and appreciate the experiences and contributions of people from different backgrounds. A culturally responsive education links curriculum, instruction, and assessment to the students' experiences, language and culture, in other words, to their prior knowledge.
Hubert Dyasi, director of the City College Workshop Center, New York,
NY, talks about the importance of a cultural frame of reference to a child's
prior knowledge, group standing, and self-esteem. [Audio file, 408k]
Excerpted from the national videoconference The New Definition of Learning,
The First Step for School Reform (NCREL, 1990).
The challenge is to find the knowledge and practices in family and community life that have a common orientation with what the schools seek to teach. Luis Moll and his associate's research on "funds of knowledge" finds just such a relationship in Hispanic communities; other researchers find application in different cultural settings (Au, 1992; Gay, 1994).
Luis Moll, Associate Professor in the College of Education at the University
of Arizona, describes how one teacher has created a productive classroom
environment by blending traditional educational activities with the cultural
influences his students receive at home. [QuickTime slide show, 585k]
Excerpted from the video series Restructuring to Promote Learning in
America's Schools, videoconference #3, The Collaborative Classroom:
Reconnecting Teachers and Learners (NCREL, 1991).
Finally, understanding the student's abilities is as important to effective
instruction as selecting the appropriate instructional materials.
GOALS:
Beverly J. Armento, Professor of Social Studies at Georgia State University
in Atlanta, explains the importance of including multiple voices and perspectives
in the social studies curriculum. [Audio file, 405k] Excerpted from
the video series Restructuring to Promote Learning, videoconference
#2: The Thinking Curriculum (NCREL, 1990).
ACTION OPTIONS:
IMPLEMENTATION PITFALLS: Teachers must not confuse familiarity with knowledge or in-depth understanding. They must constantly evaluate their instruction to ensure they are building on what their students know, not just "giving information." In addition to activating prior knowledge, teachers must help correct any misconceptions or stereotypes in the students' understanding.
Schools also must establish clear goals and standards, as called for in the Goals 2000: Educate America Act, and use authentic measures to assess student performance. It is difficult, if not impossible, to assess complex thinking and problem-solving skills using traditional measures such as standardized tests. The trend in assessment is toward alternative measures that provide opportunities for students to demonstrate cultural connections, to elaborate on central, integrative themes, and to explore new meanings and relationships in generative or dynamic ways.
DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW: Some educators view knowledge development as cumulative. They prefer an instructional philosophy that deals with less integrated pieces of knowledge, as reflected in the "back-to-basics" approach. Other educators believe in a standardized school program that emphasizes a common core of knowledge and does not include personalized, culturally-oriented understanding. They often use standardized instructional programs such as basal readers and textbooks.
ILLUSTRATIVE CASES:
Kamehameha Early Education Program draws on strengths of the Hawaiian culture.
Professional development programs help teachers activate students' prior knowledge and real-life experiences.
CONTACTS:
Educational Testing Service
Rosedale Road
Princeton, NJ 08541
(609) 921-9000, Fax (609) 734-5010
Gopher: gopher://gopher.ets.org/1/
Geneva Gay
University of Washington
School of Education
122 Miller Hall, DQ12
Seattle, WA 98195
(206) 543-6636, Fax (206) 543-8439
Luis C. Moll
University of Arizona
Bureau of Applied Research in Anthropology
Anthropology Building, 317A
Tucson, AZ 85721
(602) 621-1291, Fax (602) 621-1853
National Center for Research on Cultural Diversity and Second
Language Learning
Center for Applied Linguistics
1118 22nd St. NW
Washington, DC 20037
(202) 429-9292
email: ncrcdsll@cal.org
WWW: http://www.cal.org/pubs/ncrcpubs.html
Sandra Orletsky
Quilt Project
Appalachia Educational Laboratory
1031 Quarrier Street, 8th Floor
Charlston, WV 25301
(304) 347-0400 or (800) 624-9120, Fax (304) 347-0487
Date posted: 1995