Operational Aspect
The Gerlach & Ely model is an attempt to portray graphically a method of systematically planning instruction. Incorporated in this model are two items: the necessity of carefully defined goals and the tactics on how to reach each goal. Both parts are absolutely essential for effective teaching.
There are ten elements to this model. The first is the specification of content and the second is specification of objectives. The teacher is ultimately responsible for selecting what parts of the content will be taught when. These decisions can be based on many things, including state/local guidelines, supervisors, personal experiences, and long-range goals. Objectives are defined to be specific skills that the learner should be able to display under defined conditions at a designated time (Gerlach, 1980). The
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authors prefer that the objectives are selected before the content, however they realize that in most scenarios that is just not possible. Many times, teachers are assigned specific content or curricula for specific times. The arrow between the first two (vertical) boxes denotes that either one can initially occur first, but ultimately they will be simultaneous and interconnected.
Step three consists of assessing the learner’s entering behaviors. Every student affected by this particular model (or lesson plan) will come into the situation with different starting knowledge. According to the authors, the fundamental question that must be answered prior to formal instruction is, “To what extent has the student learned the terms, concepts, and skills which are part of this course (Gerlach, 1980)?” This can happen in a variety of ways, including a pretest.
Steps four through eight are dependent on one another. Any decision that is made in one of these steps will influence the range of decisions available in the others. These decisions are simultaneous and interactive. Determination of strategy is the first in this special group. The choices here can range from the expository, more traditional approach of the teacher presenting all the information, to the inquiry approach where the teacher is a facilitator helping students discover. Each approach is valid and has its own place in the learning experience. The next decision in this model is the organization of groups. Should instruction be self-study, involve small groups, the entire class, or another alternative form? The objectives can help select the most appropriate group size by answering the following three questions (Gerlach, 1980):
1. Which objectives can be reached by the learners on their own?
2. Which objectives can be achieved through interaction among the learners themselves?
3. Which objectives can be achieved through formal presentation and through interaction between you and the learner?
Answers to these questions will also narrow your choices steps six and seven, where the allocation of time and space are determined. Time can be divided up among the various teaching strategies, while watching out for time constraints such as school