When designing the input for a Production and Research activity, it’s essential to keep in mind three key principles:

  • Activation of prior knowledge
  • Encoding specificity
  • Knowledge elaboration

Imagine you are about to design the input for your next Production and Research activity in class.
Use the field below to write down the question or problem you want to present to your students.

Now review the input you’ve written and check whether it meets the three pillars:

 
The input I provided activates students’ prior knowledge

Remember: the problems, projects, or research questions you propose should be complex enough to challenge students, while still allowing them to draw on their existing knowledge and skills to tackle the task.

 
The input I provided follows the rule of encoding specificity

Remember: retrieving information and prior knowledge will be easier if the context in which they are recalled is similar to the one in which they were originally learned.

 
The input I provided encourages students to elaborate on knowledge

Remember: a problem set within a real-world scenario requires explanation in terms of underlying processes, principles, and mechanisms. This makes it highly effective for activating elaboration and critical thinking.

If your input does not fully meet one or more of these principles, try reformulating it.