Vorausorganisatoren

Vorausorganisatoren, often translated as "advance organizers," are instructional tools used in education to prepare learners for upcoming material. Developed by David Ausubel, this pedagogical concept aims to bridge the gap between a learner's existing knowledge and the new information they are about to encounter. Advance organizers are typically presented before the main learning content and are designed to provide a conceptual framework or a higher-level overview.

There are two primary types of advance organizers: expository and comparative. Expository advance organizers provide a general introduction to the new subject matter, defining key concepts and their relationships. They aim to clarify the structure and scope of the upcoming material. Comparative advance organizers, on the other hand, are used when the new material has similarities to existing knowledge. They highlight these similarities and differences, helping learners to integrate the new information by relating it to what they already know.

The effectiveness of advance organizers lies in their ability to activate relevant prior knowledge, provide a mental scaffolding, and reduce cognitive load. By offering a context and a structure, they help learners to process new information more efficiently and make it more meaningful. This can lead to improved comprehension, retention, and transfer of knowledge. Advance organizers are versatile and can be implemented in various formats, including written summaries, introductory lectures, or visual aids, and are considered a valuable strategy for enhancing learning across different subject areas and age groups.