The spiral approach was developed by Jerome Bruner, the spiral approach is a curriculum design where concepts are introduced to learners at a basic level initially and then revisited repeatedly over time with increasing complexity and depth. This approach is a continuous process, where learners benefit from multiple exposures to key ideas and skills across different stages of their education. Each revisit builds upon prior knowledge and encourages deeper understanding and mastery of the subject matter.

 

Bruner proposed that human cognition develops through three stages;

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• Enactive: manipulating and interacting with objects 

• Iconic: manipulating images of the objects

• Symbolic: manipulating representations of the objects

 

The key features of the Spiral Approach are:

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• Students revisit a topic, theme or subject several times

• The complexity of the content increases with each revisit

• New learning has a connection with the old content and is put in context with the new information

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Learning without the Spiral Approach may:

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• Lead to gaps in understanding and difficulty applying knowledge.

• Hinder the ability to think critically and solve complex problems.

• Forget information shortly after it's been taught. 

• Delay the transfer of knowledge and skills.

• Lead to disengagement and motivation to learn.

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The benefits of the Spiral Approach are:

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• The information is reinforced and consolidated with each revisit

• The approach allows a logical progression from from simplistic ideas to more complex

• Students are encouraged to apply early knowledge to new learning

 

The spiral approach allows learners to repeatedly encounter and engage with concepts over time, deepening their understanding and skills gradually. It enables them to build a solid foundation of knowledge that can be expanded upon with increasing complexity and depth as they progress through their learning journey. This approach fosters a more comprehensive understanding of topics and enhances retention by reinforcing learning through multiple exposures and applications.