IUP lesson plans are written using the 5-E model to encourage student engagement and critical thinking. The 5-E instructional scheme was developed by Trowbridge and Bybee (1990) as a means of easily creating a student-centered lesson. It is made up of five basic sections: engage, explore, explain, elaborate, and evaluate, although these sections can be repeated within a lesson as needed to cover the required material. The 5-E model aids the instructor in maintaining a smooth flow during a class by giving a simple outline for developing the class procedures. It reduces time spent on unrelated topics and helps keep student groups on task, aids in developing better understanding of the material by encouraging exploration of new information before the explanation, and encourages a variety of assessment techniques. Teachers will guide, focus, challenge, and promote student learning as they move through the five steps of the lesson (Wilder & Shuttleworth, 2005).
Trowbridge, L. & Bybee, R. (1990). Becoming a secondary school science teacher (5th ed.). Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Merrill. Wilder, M. & Shuttleworth, P. (2005). Cell inquiry: A 5E learning cycle lesson. Science Activities, 41(4), 36-43.