Description of Elaboration Theory
Elaboration Theory is the teaching of a complicated task or process by breaking it up into simple pieces and then looking at each piece in more detail. Sequencing of the information is an important part to successfully transfer the information to others.
Why use it?
This type of theory is valuable when looking at procedural tasks or processes. The success of it lies in the fact that it is taking a simple to complex view point.
The sequence of content in ET is like zooming in at a picture to examine it. At the beginning of the course, the picture is examined with a wide angle view, which allows one to see the major parts of the picture and the major relationships among those parts but without any detail. After studying those subparts and their interrelationships, the whole parts can be reviewed with a wide-angle (Korkmaz, 2007).
Which makes it important especially when exploring the significance between parts and developing a means to seem relationships between other topics.
Example of Elaboration:
A wonderful example of Elaboration is the Models we learn about in Instructional Design. Such as the ADDIE Model. To learn about it, the Model is presented to us in a general whole. To understand what exactly happens in each we look closer at each section individually. When do we look at the large picture again.
References
CAKIROGLU, U., & OZTURK, M. (2014). IMPLEMENTATION OF ELABORATION THEORY IN MATERIAL DESIGN FOR DISTANCE EDUCATION. Turkish Online Journal Of Distance Education (TOJDE), 15(1), 143.
Richard Culatta (2015). Elaboration Theory (Charlie Reigeluth) Retrieved from http://www.instructionaldesign.org/theories/elaboration-theory.html