Concept Development Model

 Concept Development Model

This model allows students to share their understanding of a concept and then to rearrange or modify that understanding by interacting with their peers' understandings through the development process. 

This model works well as a pre-assessment because it allows the teacher to see what students already know about a specific topic. The process also allows for misconceptions to emerge and be corrected. Concept development also works as a formative assessment (students share and solidify their learning) or as a tool for organizing essays or presentations. 

Steps of the Model

1. List as many items as possible that are associated with the subject (brainstorming)
• Let students be creative in answering. Don't interrupt their thought process. 
• Correct misconceptions as they arise. 
2. Group the items because they are alike in some way. 
• Examine the relationships among items. 
• Don't leave any items out. Include them all. 
3. Label the groups by defining the reasons for grouping. 
• Students must explain the reasons for their groupings. 
• Steps 2 and 3 might happen at the same time, or you might go back and forth. 
4. Regroup or subsume individual items or whole groups under other groups. 
• Expose multiple perspectives. 
• Question previous groupings. 
5. Synthesize the information by summarizing the data and forming generalizations. 
• Students summarize trends in one or two sentences. 
• You may have a generalization for each group as well as an umbrella generalization. 
6. Evaluate students' progress by assessing their ability to generate a wide variety of items and to group those items flexibly
• Look for improved flexibility in learning over time. 

Variations on the Model

• To save time or to make sure certain items are included, the teacher may provide the brainstorming items and have the students group them. 
• The teacher may provide the labels. For example, you can have the students label their groups themselves, but then you provide them specific labels for step 4 (the regrouping).