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What were the five formal steps of Herbartian teaching?
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In the context of teacher education, the German philosopher and educator Johann Friedrich Herbart developed a pedagogical system known as Herbartianism, which outlined five formal steps for effective instruction:12
- Preparation: Relating new material to a student's relevant past ideas or memories to foster a vital interest in the topic.12
- Presentation: Introducing new material through concrete objects or actual experience.12
- Association: Assimilating the new idea by comparing it with former knowledge to identify similarities and differences, thereby implanting it in the mind.12
- Generalization: A procedure designed to develop the mind beyond concrete perception, which Herbart considered especially important for adolescents.12
- Application: Using acquired knowledge so that it becomes a functional part of the mind and an aid to interpreting life, which requires the student to apply the new idea immediately.12
While these steps were highly influential in the 19th century, their popularity eventually declined as they were replaced by newer pedagogical theories, such as those proposed by John Dewey.12