Using Spiral Learning in Instructional Design

In the spiral learning method, instructors are encouraged to circle back to topics and add new information each time.

The spiral learning method is an instructional design model I really like because it aligns so well with the spacing effect. This definition from Training Industry explains the method well:

“Spiral learning is a teaching method based on the premise that a student learns more about a subject each time the topic is reviewed or encountered. The idea is that each time a student encounters the topic, the student expands their knowledge or improves their skill level” (para. 1).

As educators, we often need to think about how we can share information and support learners in remembering what we have to teach them. Using the spiral learning method is one approach. In libraries, there are a few ways to use this method.

Often, our teaching in libraries is limited to a single session or a couple of sessions. When this is the case, we have to think about spiral learning in a limited period of time. Despite the time limitations, there are still ways to circle back to topics during a one-hour period. For example, you can start by introducing a database, show a basic search, have students conduct a search and find sources. Then, bring the class back together and demonstrate advanced search features. Again, have students conduct a search and find sources. Finally, bring the class back together and demonstrate ways to limit search results. Ask students to use the limiters with their current search results. End the class with having students review the sources and reflect on the different types of sources they found.

Instead of showing all the features of a database at the beginning of the session and then having students conduct their own searches, you circle back and build knowledge over the course of the session.

A second example of how to use spiral learning in the library is to create tutorials that incorporate the spiral method. For example, let’s say you are creating a tutorial on academic publishing. You start the tutorial with a basic description of peer review, then include examples of academic publishers and the editorial process. Then, you spiral back to peer review and explain the open peer review process. After that you share examples of journals with a traditional peer review process and open peer review. Next, the tutorial explains collaborative peer review and includes examples of journals that use a collaborative peer review approach.

Both of these examples are focused on fairly narrow topics. In a longer class, you would have the opportunity to spiral many different topics and build student knowledge over an extended period of time. However, because of the nature of many librarians’ work, I wanted to give examples of how to use spiral learning in shorter lessons.