The elaboration theory was originated by Charles Reigeluth and his colleagues in the late 1970s. It proposes that teachers first teach broader more inclusive concepts before more detailed ones, and also group related concepts, principles, and steps into learning episodes. The theory allows students to choose which concepts, principles, or tasks they want to elaborate on or learn first.

1. Elaboration Theory
ELIZABETH RUSSO

2. Who originated the elaboration theory?
 The elaboration theory
was originated by
Charles Reigeluth and
his colleagues in the late
1970s.

3. Key points of the elaboration theory
 conceptual elaboration sequence: used when there
are many related concepts to be learned
 theoretical elaboration sequence: used when there
are many related principles to be learned
 simplifying conditions sequence: used when a task of
at least moderate complexity is to be learned

4. What does the teacher do?
 The teacher must teach broader, more inclusive
concepts before the more detailed ones that
elaborate upon them.
 Next, the teacher should teach “supporting” content
such as principles, procedures, information, higher-
order thinking skills, or attitudes together with the
concepts to which they are most closely related.

5. What does the teacher do?
 The teacher should also group concepts, principles,
or steps and their supporting content into “learning
episodes” of a useful size.
 Finally, teachers allow students to choose which
concepts, principles, or versions of the task to
elaborate upon or learn first.

6. What do students do?
 With this theory,
students choose which
concepts, principles, or
versions of the task they
want to elaborate upon
or learn first.

7. My teaching
 I believe that when it comes to my teaching, this is
an excellent theory to use.
 This theory will allow me to teach students but also
allow the students to chose how they want to learn.

8. Information used
 http://www.learning-theories.com/elaboration-
theory-reigeluth.html
 http://nasuprawoto.wordpress.com/2009/12/29/ela
boration-theory/