Super Teacher Power 03: Connecting with students through an exciting lesson structure

Super Teacher Power 03: Connecting with students through an exciting lesson structure OBJECTIVES Consideration 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.”

[Artist Unknown

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

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. Imaginative learners Dynamic learners Common sense learners Analytic learners

The 4MAT system Why How What If Imaginative learners Dynamic learners Common sense learners Analytic learners Adaptations SkillsConcepts Meaning

Preferences Why How What If 29% 17% 31% 23%

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 Teacher Active Learner Active

Who is most active in lessons? Why How What If PERCETION CONTINUUM 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?

Activity 1 Cotton, paper clip and compass

Plenary What action will you now take based on what you have learnt from Super Teacher Power 3?

Contact Tony Swainston Director ECM Connections Ltd 20 Hollins Road, Harrogate, HG1 2JF, England website: tel: mob: See my blog at