Jennifer Niskanen's 4Mat Page
 
     

McCarthy's 4Mat Curriculum
Development Model

The 4Mat curriculum development model allows the teacher to create a program that is engaging to a variety of different learning styles, intelligences, and personality types.  This system also makes the inclusion of cooperative learning activities easy by telling the teacher exactly when these activities will be the most useful in the unit. The four learning styles are integrated into a cyclical approach which begins by asking the students to participate in WHY activities.  This provides concrete motivation in an innovative way to create interaction and discussion on what is felt, and seen.
     
   

 
 The process then continues by having the students enter into WHAT activities. These provide for reflective observation - watching and thinking - in order to think through the concepts and formulate them in an analytical way. The next stage is the abstract conceptualization stage, answering HOW.  By thinking, giving facts, and trying by doing, students can integrate common sense with underlying reasons and, with hands-on activities, move closer to personalized knowledge which can be useful later in life.  This leads to the fourth stage, the active experimentation stage, in which students sense concrete reality.  In a process of self-discovery, they answer the question IF and basically teach themselves and others.  Here, the students adapt and share what they have learned.

S K I L L S   O F   T H E   F O U R    L E A R N I N G    S T Y L E S  

Type Four 
IF?		 Type One 
WHY?
- Modifying 
- Shifting 
- Adapting 
- Risking 
- Intuiting 
- Acting 
- Collaborating 
- Innovating 
- Creating		 - Brainstorming 
- Listening 
- Speaking 
- Interacting 
- Knowing Oneself 
- Understanding and 
   Appreciating Others
Type Three 
HOW?		 Type Two 
WHAT?
- Experimenting 
- Manipulating Materials 
  and Ideas 
- Following Directions 
- Building On Givens 
- Making Things Work 
- Testing Reality 
- Tinkering 
- Improving 
- Trying and Failing 
- Applying		 - Observing 
- Analyzing 
- Classifying 
- Seriating 
- Drawing Conclusions 
- Theorizing 
- Seeing Patterns And 
 Connections 
- Conceptualizing The 
  Sense Of The Whole

   
T E A C H E R    R O L E S

The teacher's role changes as s/he moves through the cycle of learning
- from Motivator/Witness
- to Teacher/Information Giver
- to facilitator/Coach
- to Evaluator/Remediator and Resource  

CONCRETE EXPERIENCE
S e n s i n g / F e e l i n g 

C r e a t i v e    P a r t    O f    T e a c h i n g

A 
C 
T 
I 
V 
E 
 

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X 
P 
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o 
i 
n 
g		 S 
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M 
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A 
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Teacher Evaluating/Remediating  
 
 
Self Discovery  
Method 
 		 Teacher Motivating/Witnessing 
 
 

Discussion Method

T
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A
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R


M
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O
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Student/Teacher   
Interacting		 4 1 Student/Teacher Interacting
Teacher Coaching/Facilitation 
 
 
Coaching 
Method 
 		 3 2
Teacher  "Teaching"    

Information Method    
Students Reacting Teacher Acting

 I n t e l l e c t u a l    A n d    O r g a n i z a t i o n a l 
P a r t    O f   T e a c h i n g

T h i n k i n g
ABSTRACT CONCEPTUALIZATION

 
P O S S I B L E    A C T I V I T I E S  


Applying Knowledge
Do Something Personal 
With New Knowledge

-Draw  
- Skits  
- Cartoons  
- Write Story, Poem,
Journal, Etc.  
- Think Of How To
Use In Real Life

Activating Knowledge
To Get Others Interested

- Brainstorming  
- "Hook" Questions  
- Show Pictures  
- Demonstrations  
- Mind Maps  
- Make A Logo  
- Imagery

4

1


Using Knowledge |
Learn By Practice

-  Hands-on Activities  
- Worksheets  
- Puzzles  
- Fact Games  
- Read Given
Materials  
- Test Theories  
- Drill

3

2


Gaining Knowledge
Teaching Factual
Information

-Lecture  
- Charts, Graphs, Etc.  
- Pictures  
- Overheads  
- Time Lines, etc.  
- Examples

 
4 M A T   E V A L U A T I O N   T E C H N I Q U E S  


Dynamic  Learners

Like 
- Interdisciplinary
Approaches  
- Open Ended
Questions/Activities  
- Flexible Demands  
- Looking For Patterns  
- Self-discovery Projects  

Dislike 
-Assignments Without
Options  
- Repetition and Drill  
- Reflecting: Inactivity


Innovative Learners

Like 
- Group Work  
- Group Grading  
- Pass/Fail Grading  
- Self Evaluation  
- Unobtrusive
Observation  
- Participation Grading  
- Time To Reflect  

Dislike 
- Timed Tests  
- Computer Assisted Instruction  
- Debated  
- "Just Do It"

4 1

Using Knowledge  

Like 
- Field Trips, Labs  
- Hands-on Activities  
- Mobility & Concrete
Materials  
- Skills Oriented
Evaluation  
- Practical Applications  

Dislike 
- Memorizing  
- Writing Assignments  
- Group Work/Grading  
- Peer Evaluation
Involving "Feelings"  
- Being Given Answers

 3 2
Analytic  Learners

Like 
- Comments on
Papers/Tests  
- Written Tests  
- Essays  
- Multiple Choice
Tests  
- Concepts and Ideas  
- Collecting Data  

Dislike 
- Role Playing  
- Pass/fail Grading  
- Subjective Tests  
- Group Grades

Sample 4Mat Unit Plans

The information on this page was created using resources I received while I was an Education Student at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay. If you want more information or if you are planning to use some of the techniques represented here please visit some of the other links I have made available.

Learning Styles & Intelligences
     

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