Theory Description
Charles Reigeluth’s Elaboration Theory (ET) is based on knowledge scaffolding. Students must comprehend basic levels of knowledge, beginning with lower level think skills and then building upon those fundamental skills with higher level thinking skills. Translated into the e-Learning environment, this learning entity becomes collaborative learning in a suitable more consistent virtual environment.
Strengths
Virtual Learning Communities (VLCs) are the idyllic place to foster the scaffolding of collective wisdom. As presented through ET, VLCs allow fundamental knowledge building through module learning, while building communities of knowledge holders constantly sharing knowledge. Students are able to better retain knowledge gained which in turn builds student motivation through the creation through the creation of meaningful learning contexts, and the provision of information about the content that allows informed learner control (Reigeluth, 2010).
Weakness
ET lacks an explanation of assessment. The reader is left to assume that assessment is administered after the accomplishment of each of the seven components of ET: An elaborative sequence, learning perquisite sequences, summary, synthesis, analogies, cognitive strategies, and learner control.
Practical application
In practical application, ET could be applied to problem-based training. To assist in differentiation in teaching and learning, the ET applied would allow for problem solving to be broken down into various levels of understanding based on individual student needs. In turn, students will progress with the ET as problems become progressively more intricate.
Reference
Charles M. Reigeluth. (2010) Indiana University Bloomington School of Education. Retrieved from https://sites.google.com/a/nau.edu/educationallearningtheories/home/charles-reigeluth.
The Virtual Educationist 
Good work here! By the way, just so you know…this should be a video blog, not text based. Having said that, how will you apply what you have learned to the development of your ISD?
Best,
Dr Courduff
I think that digital portfolios can be used as a means of self assessment and, of course, as a display of one’s works, abilities, and accomplishments. All these things can be identified by the displayer as progression of one’s abilities are visually recognized. As we develop our ISD, I hope that we are able to communicate how digital portfolios involve students in their own assessment and how proficiency in a set of skills can be demonstrated utilizing e-portfolios.
There have been criticisms of Charles Reigeluth’s Elaboration Theory, of which include the fact there is no prescription for providing situated or authentic learning. Another criticism of elaboration theory (ET) is that it really is more of a design procedure than a learning theory. Other criticisms of ET come from distinguishing between only procedures, concepts and theory types. ET should be reformulated into more of a set of principles which would be more related to the very process of learning. ET is based on the used assumption that most general concepts are always closest to learner’s prior understanding.
Hi David,
But isn’t the learner’s fundamental understanding important in building the knowledge of the learner? The lack of assessment was an important weakness I pointed out due to its importance of identifying the learners’ knowledge before and after the application of ET. I agree with the criticism of ET being more of a design theory as even the model is very complicated.
Reigeluth, C. M. (2010). Indiana University Bloomington School of Education. Retrieved 2010 from https://sites.google.com/a/nau.edu/educationallearningtheories/home/charles-reigeluth.
I will make this correction Dr. Courduff, I see now that I miss read. Thank you!
I really enjoyed reading your theory video blog this week. I learned a lot about Charles Reigeluth’s Elaboration Theory from reading your blog. I agree with you that this theory is great for virtual and online communities. For instance with our module set ups in our current class, they present information from week to week it allows scaffolding to really take place. I believe that after the learner has gone through the different stages, this in when this theory believes that an assessment should take place.
I believe that this theory would be great from students with disabilities. . Charles Reigeluth’s Elaboration Theory focus’s one scaffolding, this would be good for students who struggle to retain a wealth of information. Students with disabilities often struggle with grasping concepts when they have not had a strong foundation. By providing scaffolding it would allow students to grasp the concepts in different parts. I really enjoyed reading about this theory and how it can be used for students in online classroom settings.
Hi Kristen,
Your comments reminded me of some research I have done previously on working knowledge scaffolding. In a study of the zone of proximal development, Gan and Zhu (2007) explained that learners cannot be satisfied with only seeking the solution to a problem, but they should acquire higher level critical thinking. This explanation goes into detail of how to acquire a higher level of thinking through the expansion of problem solving. The researchers provide implications for enrichment activities which call for scaffolding in problem solving in order to build a higher order of thinking. Problem solving scaffolding would entail probing into the deep meaning behind the problem and posing new questions or new ideas (Gan & Zhu, 2007). Thanks for your thoughts!
Reference
Gan, Y., & Zhu, Z. (2007). A Learning Framework for Knowledge Building and Collective Wisdom Advancement in Virtual Learning Communities. Educational Technology & Society, 10 (1), 206-226.
Hi Kristen,
Your comments reminded me of some research I have done previously on working knowledge scaffolding. In a study of the zone of proximal development, Gan and Zhu (2007) explained that learners cannot be satisfied with only seeking the solution to a problem, but they should acquire higher level critical thinking. This explanation goes into detail of how to acquire a higher level of thinking through the expansion of problem solving. The researchers provide implications for enrichment activities which call for scaffolding in problem solving in order to build a higher order of thinking. Problem solving scaffolding would entail probing into the deep meaning behind the problem and posing new questions or new ideas (Gan & Zhu, 2007). Thanks for your thoughts!
Reference
Gan, Y., & Zhu, Z. (2007). A Learning Framework for Knowledge Building and Collective Wisdom Advancement in Virtual Learning Communities. Educational Technology & Society, 10 (1), 206-226.