Theory Name: Powerful Learning Environments

Author: Stanley Pogrow

Associate Learning Theory
Cognitive Learning Theory

Model Description
A systematic approach to instruction can accelerate the learning of disadvantaged students within a structured framework.

Specification of Theory
(a) Goals and preconditions
- Foster the development of thinking skills for educationally disadvantaged students in grades 4-8.

(b) Principles
- Instruction should be targeted to specific learning needs of the student population.

(c) Condition of learning
- Affective Arousal
- Use of fantasy situations to motivate students to think deeply.
- Homogeneous groupings of students in an intensive setting 40 minutes a day five days per week for 18-24 months. Then move to heterogeneous grouping.

(d) Required media
- Computers are used as a basis for rich conversation (Computer as a metaphor for life)
- Computers to motivate

(e) Role of facilitator
- Provide direct instruction and guided practice within thr framework of the instructional strategies.

(f) Instructional strategies
- Metacognitive learning strategies.
- Inferencing from context.
- Generalizing ideas
- Synthesizing and selecting information

(g) Assessment method

Formative Research & Application
(a) Tested context: Disadvantaged students in grades 4-8 over a 20 year period.
(b) Research method: Qualitative and quantitative data analysis over of over 2000 students, teachers and administrators.
(c) Research description: Pattern sense making” Attempting to find patterns in massive information flows. Anthropological in nature
(d) Resources