A Guide to Implement 'The 5E Model' Integrating ICT

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Recall the last class you taught. Did you use a variety of teaching strategies and technology? Did you carry out activities? Was it engaging? Did you follow a certain order to carry out the tasks? If not, ‘The 5E Model’ is certainly a tactic to try out!

A flow diagram I created to describe 5E Model using clipart images

The 5E model is an instructional design model based on a constructivist approach, promoting students to think and work collaboratively, learn actively, boosting problem solving skills and developing new ideas. It facilitates the teaching and learning process across various steps, which are the 5Es; Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate and Evaluate. This gives a carefully planned sequence of student-centered instructions, especially in a science class. The phases can be repeated or looped as needed.  Below is a short video to explain these stages to kids. 


This Model is optimally used in a sequence of two to three weeks, as a single lesson reduces the effectiveness of individual phases due to the shortening of the time and opportunities for meaningful and deep learning. Below are descriptions of each step along with ICT integrated strategies. To implement these, devices are needed as required, such as computers, smart phones, TVs/smart boards, etc..

Engage 🎣

Teacher works to gain understanding of students’ prior knowledge and connect it with the new concepts in the lesson through engaging activities. The teacher can pose questions or let students ask.

  • Use slido.com to ask or write questions/ list what students know about the topic.

  • Show an introductory video and ask students to note/share their thoughts about it. 
            Example: YouTube

  • Share a KWL (Know-Want-Learn) chart, in Google Classroom/Google sheets/MS docs, let the students fill K and W section. The link below is a guide to the KWL chart.

Students in my class at Polytechnic using their phones to capture images of an engaging activity performed

Explore 🔎

In this stage, students actively explore the new concept through their environment/materials and common experiences. They identify and develop concepts, observations, processes, and skills by carrying out hands-on investigations. The teacher instructs and facilitates by coaching/guiding students as they record and analyze observations or data and begin constructing models or initial explanations.

  • Create shared platforms for students to note down observations/data and pictures 

Example: Google slides/docs/sheets/MS spreadsheets

  • Let students surf internet to collect information from relevant websites

Example: Google search, YouTube videos

  • Create an online puzzle related to the topic and share it with students

Example: puzzel.org ,  puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com


My classmates and I in ICT class, exploring information for an interactive activity. Photo: Lecturer Mumthaz Miss

Explain 👩‍🏫🧑‍🎓

This is a teacher-led phase sharing additional information that helps students synthesize new knowledge and ask further questions. The students explain the concepts they have been exploring.
  • Create a shared platform to share documents and comments/questions/answers, let students make short notes
            Example: G-suite apps, Dropbox, microsoft-teams
  • Presentations using multimedia; images, illustrations, videos, blogs, etc.
            Example: canva , genial.ly
  • Use of previously made KWL (Know-Want-Learn) chart in the Engaging stage, to fill the L (what they learned) section.

Explanation of a task handed in my ICT class / with my students at Maldives Polytechnic

Elaborate/Extend 💬

This phase provides opportunities for the learners to develop deeper and broader understanding of concepts, obtain more information, apply the knowledge, refine their skills and draw conclusions from what they have learnt. The teacher enhances further investigations or reasoning, clearing misconceptions, enabling students to discuss, compare and extend their ideas on a practical note through class or home work.

  • Use of interactive softwares/websites 

            Example: Google docs/slides/jamboard,  , padlet

  • Setting a platform to track students work

            Example: Google classroom, Moodle, khanacademy, seesaw 

Elaborating on a topic learned in ICT class/ My student clearing a doubt online 

Evaluate ✅💯

This phase encourages teachers and learners to determine the understanding of concepts and progress through not only formal/informal self and peer assessments, but also a variety of products such as a presentation, a poster, a pamphlet, a journal article or a learning game. It is important to reflect with feedback on the outcomes and represent necessary changes that need to be made.

  • Use of educational quiz platforms to identify level of understanding of the concepts
          Example: quizizz, kahoot
  • Use of formal educational assessment platforms to evaluate and give feedback
          Example: Google classroom/meet/forms/docs/slides, moodle , proctoring


My students performing an online test on Google Meet/ Students performing a test using computers

The mentioned ICT activities/strategies are only a few I have explored. There are many to explore and learn. The goal of instructional models such as 5E is not just to perform activities, but to consider the order and sequence of activities to align with the model to maximize student learning. Shuffling the order (such as explaining before exploring as many teachers do) may not bring the best result intended. Also too much time on one stage has the same effect. Therefore, it is important to plan ahead, include activities/strategies in the lesson plan itself. Below is a link to sample mathematics and science lesson plans made on the 5E model.

Key ideas: Start small! Think ahead! Investigate! Do your magic! Share!



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