Our Learning Philosophy
Understanding Explicit Direction Instruction (EDI)
Explicit Direct Instruction (EDI) is a highly structured teaching method that supports students in learning new concepts effectively and efficiently. It is grounded in research and has consistently been shown to improve student outcomes. EDI breaks learning into clear, manageable steps, ensuring every child can experience success at St. Vincent De Paul Primary School.
How EDI Works
The core of EDI is its logical and repeatable structure, which includes a number of key components:
- Clear Learning Goals: Every lesson begins with a clear objective, so students know exactly what they are expected to learn.
- The I Do, We Do, You Do Framework: This is the heart of EDI. First, the teacher demonstrates the skill – I Do. Next, students practice with the teacher’s guidance – We Do. Finally, students independently apply what they’ve learned – You Do. This gradual release of responsibility builds confidence and mastery.
- Active Engagement: Students are actively involved throughout the lesson through questions, discussions, and activities. This keeps them focused and helps them deeply understand the material.
- Immediate Feedback: Teachers provide instant feedback to correct any misunderstandings right away. This ensures students build a strong, accurate foundation of knowledge.
- Daily Reviews: We regularly revisit previously taught material to reinforce learning and ensure it sticks.
The Benefits for Your Child
For your child, this means:
- Deeper Understanding: By breaking down complex ideas, EDI makes learning clear and easy to follow.
- Increased Confidence: The structured success of the I Do, We Do, You Do model helps children feel successful and positive about their learning.
- Personalised Support: The EDI approach allows teachers to quickly identify what each student needs, providing tailored support to help them thrive.
The Science behind our learning philosophy
John Sweller’s Cognitive Load Theory explains that our brain’s working memory can only handle a small amount of new information at one time. Explicit Direct Instruction (EDI) directly addresses this by breaking down learning into small, clear steps, which prevents your child’s brain from getting overwhelmed. By managing the amount of new information and providing immediate feedback, EDI makes it easier for the brain to move what it’s learned from short-term working memory to long-term memory, where it can be stored and used for future learning.
Gradual Release of Responsibility Model
