It does so by:
APT differs from classroom talk in which the teacher asks a question that has a single right answer and the student responds—what is often referred to as
IRE (teacher
Initiates, student
Responds, teacher
Evaluates).
IRE can be helpful for practicing a skill or as a review, but APT requires students to think more deeply and to articulate their thinking to others:
IRE | APT |
---|---|
What is 3 times 8? | Work with your partner to represent the number 24 in as many ways as you can |
Who can recall the four phases of the moon? | Why does the moon’s appearance change? |
What are the three branches of the U.S. Government? | Discuss with your group which branch of the federal government you think is most powerful, and why. |
IRE requires that students remember what was read or taught; APT requires that students process what was read or taught to generate their own arguments, explanations, ideas, or solutions.