The lessons of the CASE intervention use a pedagogy based on the 5 pillars

Concrete preparation

Setting the scene and establishing vocabulary. This often means we have to use some interesting stimulus to find out what students already know and think. These are often photographs, stories, very visual or tactile data and simple practical apparatus.

The aim is to include all students and make sure the key vocabulary is understood by all.

Cognitive Conflict

The challenge of tasks that confound expectation. Often the stimuli used in concrete preparation are interpreted in different ways by the students in the class. The range of ideas can be increased by individual (sometimes silent and anonymous), pair work, larger groups and whole class sharing.

Social Construction

Discussions that share and compare ideas. The teacher brings out the ideas, often recording them on a large and visible board, so they are publicly available to all and thus subject to criticism, analysis and evaluation. This is often where the teacher uses student ideas and disagreements to resolve some of the cognitive conflicts. They may also introduce ideas or forms of representation that can assist student thinking. This mediation process often uses open ended questions that invite all students to take a position.

Metacognition

Reflection on our thinking and actions. Monitoring what we think we know, evaluating our ideas and strategies and planning the next steps.

Bridging

Making links with the ways of thinking to the real world and other contexts and subjects.