Background knowledge is the collection of concepts, experiences, and information a person already possesses that allows them to make sense of new material. In educational frameworks like SIOP (Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol), it is treated as a specific instructional component with three core features designed to ground new learning in a student's existing mental framework. Core Features of Building Background Knowledge
In the SIOP framework, building background knowledge is defined by three specific features: background knowledge
: Teachers connect new concepts directly to the students' personal lives, cultural backgrounds, and worldly experiences. and worldly experiences. Beyond instructional frameworks
Beyond instructional frameworks, background knowledge has several defining characteristics and cognitive benefits: Building Background in the SIOP Framework - TESOL Trainers background knowledge