Harvesting Prior Knowledge
Harvesting Prior Knowledge
The act of harvesting past knowledge is the process of detecting and using the knowledge, experiences, and skills of learners to make the understanding easier and to trigger the new learning. This is a very important practice in education because it is the way for teachers to adapt the lessons to the students' needs and at the same time to promote students' deeper engagement with the material.
Why is harvesting prior knowledge important in education?
The process of accessing prior knowledge is of great significance, as it enables teachers to relate newfound info to students' previous knowledge, thus enhancing learning's reality and effectiveness. To illustrate, when a teacher is presenting a new topic in physics, discussing students' earlier encounters with motion or everyday instances like riding a bicycle can serve as a useful guide for them to understand the recent material better.
How can educators effectively assess prior knowledge?
They can implement different methods for measuring knowledge that students had earlier such as pre-assessments, questionnaires, surveys, and concept mapping. A good example is a teacher who would use a KWL chart (Know, Want to know, Learned) at the beginning of a unit to check on students previous understanding of a topic, which in turn made it possible for them to give specific instructions that implied building on their previous knowledge.
What strategies can be used to harvest prior knowledge in the classroom?
For the successful utilizing of prior knowledge, teachers can employ brainstorming sessions, group discussions, and the use of graphic organizers among other strategies. To illustrate, in a lesson on ecosystems, a teacher could request the students to talk about their reality with the local wildlife, creating a community of students where they can connect their own experiences with the curriculum.
How does harvesting prior knowledge benefit diverse learners?
Building on students' prior knowledge is beneficial for a diverse group of learners, as it recognizes their different backgrounds, experiences, and learning styles, contributing to a better classroom environment. For example, consider a multicultural classroom where the students discuss about different cultural practices of a topic that they learned. This can indeed confirm the students' experiences and create a sense of belonging hence, it can ultimately improve both the students' participation and their learning outcomes.