Concept Attainment Model

Concept Attainment is a great to encourage critical thinking skills. The target concept is not communicated to the students. The teacher presents examples (verbal or pictures), and the students guess the concept by figuring out the common attributes. Students use higher order thinking skills, such as classifying, identifying characteristics and relationships, and applying new ideas while using the target vocabulary and concept. They discriminate between what is and what is not an example of the target concept. 

Steps for teaching Concept Attainment Model 

1. Select and define a concept
2. Select the attributes
3. Develop positive and negative examples
4. Introduce the process to the students
5. Present the examples and list the attributes
6. Develop a concept definition
7. Give additional examples
8. Discuss the process with the class
9. Evaluate

For my content of teaching a great idea to use this model would be when teaching "Apostasy". This is for sure a word use multiple times on Sunday worship and throughout religious classes but that usually is misunderstood. 

Yes examples:

• When individuals or groups of people turn away from the principles of the gospel.
• A turning away from the truth by individuals, the Church, or entire nations.
• Latter-day Saints who have seriously contravened or ignored cardinal Church teachings.
• Open repudiation of the Church, its leaders, and teachings.
• When the Lord prospers his people, they sometimes harden their hearts and forget him.

No Examples:

• Individuals with questions about doctrine, principles or practices of the Church.
• Members of the church that do not attend regular church meeting.
• Members of the church marrying people prophesying different belief. 
• Latter-day Saints who are not baptized at 8 years old.
• Those members of the church that didn't serve a full time mission. 

After developing the concept definition from the Yes examples with the class, I will give them additional examples from the scriptures for them to refine their list:

1. I marvel that ye are so soon removed unto another gospel, Gal. 1:6.
2. They commenced in the good path but lost their way in the mist, 1 Ne. 8:23 (1 Ne. 12:17).
3. After they had tasted of the fruit, they fell away into forbidden paths, 1 Ne. 8:28.
4. Nephite apostasy caused a stumbling block for nonbelievers, Alma 4:6–12.
5. Many members of the Church became proud and persecuted other members, Hel. 3:33–34 (Hel. 4:11–13; 5:2–3).
6. The Nephites hardened their hearts and fell under Satan’s power, 3 Ne. 2:1–3.
7. Moroni prophesied about apostasy in the last days, Morm. 8:28, 31–41.
8. Apostasy will precede the Second Coming, D&C 1:13–16.

Finally I would have my students evaluate by applying their learning in a new task. 

I would have them come up with new examples of what is Apostasy. 

I would do the same with another concept "repentance"....and so ON!! I love the idea of my students becoming empower in their learning by discovering and building from what they already know.