PLT’s E-Units are organized around the Biological Sciences Curriculum Study (BSCS) 5E Instructional Model – engage, explore, explain, elaborate, and evaluate.
- The five phases of the Biological Sciences Curriculum Study (BSCS) 5E Instructional Model are designed to facilitate the process of conceptual change.
- The use of this model brings coherence to different teaching strategies, provides connections among educational activities, and helps science teachers make decisions about interactions with students.
- Each phase of the model and a short phrase to indicate its purpose from a student perspective are:
- Engagement – students’ prior knowledge accessed and interest engaged in the phenomenon
- Exploration – students participate in an activity that facilitates conceptual change
- Explanation – students generate an explanation of the phenomenon
- Elaboration – students’ understanding of the phenomenon challenged and deepened through new experiences
- Evaluation – students assess their understanding of the phenomenon