Enhance learning with teacher-led explanations

High-quality explanations help students grasp the abstract concepts that they learn in the chemistry classroom. However, teachers can be sceptical about using explanations in their teaching, believing them to contradict a student-focused teaching approach. A 2024 study explored teachers’ beliefs about instructional, pre-planned explanations in chemistry lessons. It highlighted the benefits of a well-crafted explanation in developing students’ understanding but noted that teachers’ hesitancy to use explanations might mean they use them poorly, or not at all. Discover six key aspects of a high-quality explanation, plus tips for using explanations effectively to improve learner understanding.