What is Embedded Instruction for Early Learning?

 

What is embedded instruction?

Embedded instruction is an approach used to promote child engagement, learning, and independence in everyday activities, routines, and transitions. This is accomplished by identifying times and activities when instructional procedures designed for teaching a child's priority learning targets are implemented in the context of ongoing [naturally-occurring] activities, routines, and transitions in the classroom.

This approach to embedded instruction emphasizes the use of complete learning trials to ensure sufficient, systematic, and intentional learning opportunities are provided in the context of everyday activities, routines, and transitions. Our definition also focuses on identifying the types of instructional procedures that might be used within or across these activities, routines, and transitions.

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Why use embedded instruction?

Embedded instruction is used to meet children's needs without changing daily routines and activities by providing opportunities to learn and practice important skills in meaningful contexts. Instruction can occur during natural classroom activities, routines, and transitions using curriculum for all children. Embedded instruction maximizes children's motivation by following their interests and promotes generalization and maintenance by providing instruction within and across activities, routines, and transitions.

What steps are involved in embedded instruction?

  • Planning
  • Implementing
  • Evaluating

 

What instructional procedures can be used?

Instructional procedures are broadly defined. These can include:

  • Universal curricular modifications
  • Targeted curricular modifications
  • Naturalistic instructional procedures
  • Prompt/prompt fading
  • Feedback/consequence strategies

 

What is a Complete Learning Trial?

A complete learning trial (CLT) occurs when a naturally-occurring or planned antecedent is followed by a behavior that leads to a naturally-occurring or planned consequence. By naturally-occurring, we mean something that occurs typically in the child's environment. By antecedent, we mean something that sets the occasion for a child's behavior. By consequence, we mean something that happens in the child's environment immediately following his/her behavior. Instructional procedures (whether they be universal curricular modifications, targeted curricular naturalistic instructional procedures, or specific instructional strategies) are effective when they result in complete learning trials for the child.

 

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This project is a collaboration among faculty at the University of Florida, Vanderbilt University, University of Washington, and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The project is funded by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) Project Number R324A070008. The opinions expressed, however, do not reflect the official position or policy of the US Department of Education. Copyright 2009 © Embedded Instruction for Early Learning. All rights reserved.