Expert Novice
Levels PK-12 Content - Any, but best for science or math or other process related content
In Expert/Novice students brainstorm questions a novice might ask about a procedure or process and then take on roles to answer the questions. This metacognitive routine guides students through the skill of explanation, and the formal roles often make students feel less inhibited to share misconceptions and solidify the proper steps and reasons for the steps. (Seidlitz, p.79). In math, for example, students may get through 2-3 practice problems using Expert/Novice as opposed to 10-15 problems a teacher directs on the board, but the process creates memory, meaning and attention, resulting in a greater depth of understanding.
READ
Here are the steps:
Students brainstorm questions a novice might ask about a procedure or process.
Students list possible answers an expert might give to the questions; those are collected on an anchor chart to use as a support during practice.
Students form A/B pairs. One student plays the role of the novice, and the other is the expert.
After practice time, pairs of students model the conversations for the class.
PRO TIP
PRO TIP! Chart the novice questions and the expert answers as a scaffold when partners practice.
WATCH EXPERT & NOVICE IN PRACTICE
In which phases of the instructional model might this strategy be used?
