This Week In ID Newsletter, Uncategorized

Welcome to Fall’25 – Introducing the 5E Model!

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“Our lessons, units, and courses should be logically inferred from the results sought, not derived from the methods, books, and activities with which we are most comfortable. Curriculum should lay out the most effective ways of achieving specific results… in short, the best designs derive backward from the learnings sought.” –Understanding by Design, Wiggins and McTighe 

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Dear Faculty,

Instructional Development is pleased to welcome you to the Fall ’25 semester! We hope the academic year is off to a strong and inspiring start.

This fall, our newsletter series will spotlight the 5E instructional model—Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate—a powerful framework for designing active, student-centered learning experiences. Each edition will also feature tips for using our new Learning Management System, Canvas, along with guidance on creating accessible and interactive course content to help meet the upcoming ADA Title II changes and current Regular and Substantive Interaction requirements.

We’re excited to support you in building inclusive, engaging, and effective learning environments.

Warm regards,
The ID Team
CITS | Instructional Development

So, what is the 5E model? 

As stated in Lesley University’s article, Empowering Students: The 5E Model Explained the 5E Model was developed in 1987 by the Biological Sciences Curriculum Study. This model was designed to promote collaborative, active learning in which students work together to solve problems and investigate new concepts by asking questions, observing, analyzing, and drawing conclusions. The 5E Model is based on the Constructivist Theory, which suggests that people construct knowledge and meaning from experiences. By understanding and reflecting on activities, students can reconcile new knowledge with previous ideas.  Before you move on, please read this article about how the 5 E’s model is designed to align with “How People Learn.”

What are the benefits for college students? 

“The 5E Model of Instruction promotes active learning. Students are involved in more than listening and reading. They learn to ask questions, observe, model, analyze, explain, draw conclusions, argue from evidence, and talk about their own understanding. Students work collaboratively with peers to construct explanations, solve problems, and plan and carry out investigations.” –Rodger Bybee 

Group of umass dartmouth studentd taking a photo near the school mascot, Arnie

  • Enhanced Critical Thinking: The 5E model encourages students to ask questions, analyze data, and make inferences, skills crucial for navigating a complex information landscape.
  • Active & Collaborative Learning: Students engage in hands-on activities, experiments, and problem-solving scenarios, often in groups, which promotes deeper involvement and shared understanding.
  • Deeper Conceptual Understanding: By actively constructing knowledge and connecting new information to their experiences, students develop more robust and lasting comprehension of concepts.
  • ️️Increased Student Ownership: The model shifts the focus from passive reception to active participation, giving students more control over their learning process and fostering a sense of agency.
  • Real-World Relevance: The Elaborate phase allows students to apply their learning to new, often more complex, situations, helping them understand the relevance and transferability of their knowledge.
  • Improved Self-Confidence and Interest: Research shows that using the 5E model can increase students’ interest in and confidence with subjects like science, potentially leading to greater career interest.
  • Development of Communication Skills: In the Elaborate and Evaluate phases, students are encouraged to communicate their findings and evaluate their own understanding, improving their ability to explain their reasoning.
  • Support for Diverse Learners: The multi-faceted nature of the 5E model allows for varied learning experiences, making it more accessible and effective for students with different learning styles.

What are the benefits for faculty?

The 5E model directly connects with the educational goals of a flexible online, blended, or face-to-face learning environment that includes student-driven inquiry and problem-solving activities. By using this model, instructors can create unique online and blended learning experiences by designing courses that promote active learning, critical thinking, and collaborative learning.

Summary of 5E Model and Assessment Ideas

The following is a summary of each “E” and a few examples of how they can be applied with the tools available to instructors at UMass Dartmouth. These are some of the ways the 5Es can be implemented. Instructional Development is always available to meet and discuss more options for incorporating the 5Es in any course design.  

5e model engage, blue head with gears as a thought bubble.
Engage
Activate students’ prior knowledge and pique interest in the topic or concept.
Assignment ideas: Discussion boards, Harmonize, VoiceThread, and collaborative documents.  

5e model Explore, blue magnifying glassExplore 
Provide students with ways to explore topics and ideas through interactive activities that might include videos, podcasts, readings, or offline tasks.
Assignment ideas: Journaling, discussion boards, Harmonize, VoiceThread, and short written responses.  

5e model blue speech bubble
Explain (Expand) 
Offer students the opportunity to share their ideas with the class, reinforcing what they have learned in the previous module.
Assignment ideas: Group projects, discussion boards, Harmonize, and presentations using Kaltura or VoiceThread.   

5e model blue smart chart icon
Elaborate (Evaluate) 
In this phase, students cement their knowledge by applying acquired content and demonstrating what they have learned.
Assignment ideas: Kahoot!, Quizzes, presentations, using Kaltura and VoiceThread, creating graphic organizers or mind maps, and collaborative projects.  

5e model blue check mark
Evaluate (Extend) 
The primary focus of this module is to measure student progress toward learning objectives and desired results, focusing on whether students have a complete grasp of the core concepts.
Assignment Ideas: Evaluating case studies, tests/quizzes, Kahoot!,  written reflections or exams, and presentations using Kaltura or VoiceThread.  

RSI: regular and substantive interaction

How does the 5E Model help achieve RSI standards for online coursework?

The 5E Model—Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate—is a student-centered instructional model that promotes active learning and conceptual understanding. When aligned with RSI (Regular and Substantive Interaction) standards for online coursework (as required by the U.S. Department of Education for online education), the 5E Model can significantly help instructors meet those requirements. Here’s how each phase of the 5E Model supports RSI standards in online learning:

✅ 1. Engage

Goal: Spark curiosity and connect to prior knowledge.
How it supports RSI:

  • Instructors can post thought-provoking questions, videos, or scenarios via discussion boards or announcements.
  • They can interact directly with students through personalized feedback, synchronous welcome messages, or introductory activities.
  • Helps establish instructor presence early and often—an RSI requirement.

Example RSI-aligned activity:
A video intro with the instructor asking a key question, followed by a discussion board where the instructor responds to student posts.

✅ 2. Explore

Goal: Allow students to investigate concepts through activities.
How it supports RSI:

  • Instructors can guide exploration via curated resources, simulations, or group work with ongoing feedback and moderated discussions.
  • Faculty presence is maintained by monitoring progress, giving hints or prompts, and checking for misconceptions.

Example RSI-aligned activity:
Students complete a virtual lab or simulation, and the instructor hosts a synchronous debrief or provides timely asynchronous commentary.

✅ 3. Explain

Goal: Students articulate understanding; instructors clarify and provide formal definitions.
How it supports RSI:

  • Instructors actively clarify misconceptions, offer mini-lectures, or provide annotated content/videos.
  • This phase encourages two-way interaction through feedback on student explanations or guided peer reviews.

Example RSI-aligned activity:
Students submit a short explanation video or reflection; the instructor responds with personalized feedback and follow-up questions.

✅ 4. Elaborate

Goal: Apply knowledge to new situations; deepen understanding.
How it supports RSI:

  • Instructors introduce extension activities (e.g., case studies, cross-topic projects) with ongoing guidance and scaffolding.
  • Instructors can host synchronous or asynchronous strategy sessions or provide targeted resources based on student needs.

Example RSI-aligned activity:
A project-based assignment with instructor checkpoints, feedback loops, and optional Q&A sessions.

✅ 5. Evaluate

Goal: Assess student understanding; provide feedback.
How it supports RSI:

  • Evaluation is not just grading—it includes detailed, timely, and personalized feedback.
  • Instructors can also engage students in self-assessment and peer review under their facilitation.

Example RSI-aligned activity:
Rubric-based assignment with inline instructor comments and a follow-up message offering office hours or clarification.

View a full list of Canvas and Instructional Technology workshops and self-paced offerings! 

John Dewey’s Learning Theory: How We Learn Through Experience written by Harry Cloke of Growth Engineering

Instructional Development works with faculty to…

  • Explore, design, and experiment with different teaching and learning modes.
  • Research and integrate technologies that can enhance teaching and learning.
  • Design and develop online courses and programs.
  • Write learning outcomes, design assessments, craft activities, and develop content.
  • Utilize best practices for using instructional technologies.

Feel free to contact us online to book an appointment!