Understanding Concept Attainment

Concept attainment is a teaching strategy that focuses on helping students understand new concepts through the process of sorting and classifying information. This method places students at the center of their learning, encouraging them to engage actively with the material and develop their thinking skills.

Step-by-Step Explanation

1. Introduction to Concepts: The teacher introduces a concept without defining it outright. For example, if the concept is 'mammals', the teacher might provide examples and non-examples of mammals.
2. Providing Examples and Non-examples: Students are shown various instances that represent the concept (like a dog, cat, and whale) and instances that do not represent it (like a lizard, bird, and turtle). This helps them distinguish what fits the concept and what does not.
3. Engagement and Group Discussion: Students discuss in small groups to analyze the examples and non-examples. They share their thoughts on why certain items belong to the category of mammals and why others do not. This promotes collaboration and critical thinking among peers.
4. Formulating Criteria: Students work together to establish the criteria for the concept. They can ask questions like, 'What characteristics do these examples share?' This helps them arrive at an operational definition of the concept.
5. Testing Hypotheses: As students suggest their definition of the concept, the teacher can present new items to see if they fit or not. This step encourages students to refine their understanding through hypotheses testing.
6. Reflection and Consolidation: After engaging in the activity, students reflect on what they have learned and how their understanding has evolved. This could involve writing a summary or sharing insights with the class.

Benefits of Concept Attainment

• Critical Thinking: Students learn to think critically and analytically as they evaluate examples and non-examples.
• Active Learning: This method encourages active participation, making learning more engaging and effective.
• Collaboration: Students develop communication skills as they work together to share ideas and form conclusions.

Concept attainment is a powerful teaching method that fosters a deeper understanding of concepts through student-centered learning. By actively engaging in the learning process, students become better critical thinkers and collaborators.