Timothy Goodwin, professor of education at Bemidji State University, was recently published in Essays in Education, a peer-reviewed journal produced by Winona State University. His article outlines a curriculum design framework he developed during his 12 years at BSU.

The Consider, Construct, Confirm Learning Cycle is built around student-centered teaching practices. Reflecting on his 20 years in K–12 education, Goodwin created the model to help educators move away from traditional, lecture-based instruction and toward classroom experiences that promote long-term learning and student ownership of knowledge.

The CCC model supports teachers in designing lessons, units or full courses grounded in active engagement and constructivist learning theory.

“This framework was developed when I began teaching at BSU 12 years ago after spending 20 years in K–12 and having the time now in my career in the shift to academia to reflect on what I had learned,” Goodwin said. “Now I had the time to align what I had been doing that worked well in practice more purposefully with brain research and learning theory. And then from that research and reflection on practice was able to design this curricular design framework.”

Goodwin expands on the CCC model further in his 2020 book Consider, Construct, Confirm: A New Framework for Teaching and Learning, published by Kendall Hunt. He teaches undergraduate and graduate education courses at BSU and specializes in constructivist learning theory, science education and environmental education.

The article, “Constructivism Made Easy Using the Consider, Construct, Confirm Learning Cycle,” appears in Volume 31, Issue 1 of Essays in Education and is available now.

Story by: Emily Dukek-Haasken, assistant director of communications & marketing.