Implementing an Executive-Function Syllabus: Operational Issues

Abstract

A recent approach to pedagogic challenge, contrastive to the hierarchy approach of Bloom, Anderson, Gagne, Van Hiele, Marzano, Webb and many others, identifies pedagogic challenge with executive function: Pedagogy is defined as challenging if it addresses executive function. Executive function, in turn, is defined by the presence of multiple modalities of topic approach and a multi-parameter development of the topic. This paper discusses operational issues in implementing a teaching methodology based on multi-parameter problems. This paper advocates teaching a multi-parameter topic using a step-by-step incremental approach, introducing one parameter at a time. Examples are presented from trigonometry, actuarial mathematics, statistics and (biblical) literary analysis. The paper also discusses the use of the incremental approach for problem creation and remediation.

Keywords

• executive function
• Cognitive Challenge
• Educational Hierarchies
• Incremental Approach
• Remediation
• Literary Analysis
• Rashi
• Biblical Commentary