Super Teacher Power 03: Connecting with students through an exciting lesson structure
OBJECTIVESConsideration of:1. The 4MAT lesson structure system 2. How 4MAT might be used in my lessons
Albert Einstein
“Teaching should be such that what is offered is perceived as a valuable gift and not as a hard duty.”
The 4MAT model
• Bernice McCarthy is a teacher and educator.
• She developed a model to structure lessons that was based on learning styles.
• Learning styles refer to the way a learner receives, sorts, interacts with and processes information.
Why bother with learning styles?
• To understand how our students differ from us and from each other.
• To provide learning tools for different styles of learners.
• To help students strengthen their weaker modes of learning.
• To help us strengthen our weaker modes of teaching.
The 4MAT system
Why
How What
If
I am interested in personal meaning.
Create a reason for me.
I am interested in how things
work. Let me try
things.
I am interested in facts as they lead me to understand
concepts. Give me the facts to
deepen my understanding.
I am interested in self discovery. Let me teach it to myself and
others.
Imaginativelearners
Dynamiclearners
Common senselearners
Analyticlearners
The 4MAT system
Why
How What
If
Imaginativelearners
Dynamiclearners
Common senselearners
Analyticlearners
Adaptations
Skills Concepts
Meaning
The male/female difference
Why
How What
If
29%17%
31% 23%
M 33%F 20%
M 15%F 24%
M 25%F 19%
M 27%F 37%
Who is most active in lessons?
Why
How What
If
PERC
ETIO
N
C
ON
TIN
UU
M
PROCESSING CONTINUUM
THINKING
DOING WATCHING
FEELING
“WHY” learners
They learn by:• Listening• Speaking• Interacting• Brainstorming
“WHY” learners seek meaning.They need to be involved.
“WHAT” learners
They learn by:• Observing• Analysing • Classifying• Theorising
“WHAT” learners seek facts.They need to know what experts think.
“HOW” learners
They learn by:• Experimenting• Manipulating• Improving• Tinkering
“HOW” learners seek usability.They need to know how things work.
“IF” learners
They learn by:• Modifying• Adapting• Risking• Creating
“IF” learners seek hidden possibility.They need to discover other ways of doing
things.
Q1. Lessons in your school
• Do you use WHY, WHAT, HOW and IF learning in most lessons?
• What is your preferred style of learning?• Does this influence how much WHY, WHAT, HOW and
IF you put into lessons?
Contact
Tony SwainstonDirectorECM Connections Ltd20 Hollins Road, Harrogate, HG1 2JF, England
e-mail: [email protected]
website: www.tonyswainston.com
tel: 01423 536307mob: 07919 045429
See my blog at www.tonyswainston.com/blog/