Learn on Your Own Course/Unit Model for Independent Learning
The Philosophical and Pedagogical Model
Follow this philosophical and pedagogical model as you develop your course or unit proposal. The proposal submission form is available in the sidebar of several pages.
The Duke TIP model uses the image of an umbrella with all its component parts as a metaphor for rigorous, meaningful, and engaging courses and units for the gifted.
- the umbrella of concepts (also known as topics), understandings (also known as themes and generalizations), and essential questions (the controversies and challenges of the discipline, posed as questions for students to pursue) focuses the study of content around relevant, authentic dilemmas and problems
- the core handle of accelerated and enriched content and advanced skills exposes students to advanced terms and definitions, concepts and principles, statistics and facts, formulas and rules, and procedures and methods, challenging students to create authentic products and demonstrations
- the spines of essential skills give students real-world practice in meaningful activities, using
- disciplinary skills that allow students to play various roles performed by academics and professionals and to use the language of the discipline (terms and vocabularies) and to recognize the patterns and rules of this field of study
- process skills (thinking and research skills) that allow students to develop creative thinking, critical thinking, problem solving, and logic/reasoning skills
- interdisciplinary connections that allow students to understand content in a greater context of real-world issues, problems, and concepts
- interest-based products that allow students to explore topics and talents via long-term study
Some educators and researchers who have influenced this model include Jerome Bruner, Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe, Hilda Taba, and Sandra Kaplan.
Need a visual? View the Lesson Template here.
Questions? Contact Teresa Porter of Educational Resources for more information at
919.668.9100 or il@tip.duke.edu
