The ADI Model

Students learn by doing.

Every investigation or design challenge is built around a meaningful question or real-world problem. Students use what they know to figure something out or design a solution, and they read, talk, and write along the way.

Watch the 7-stage model Try it free

The stages of the ADI instructional model

How a lesson flows

The stages of an ADI investigation

Updated in 2021 from eight stages to seven, based on classroom testing and teacher feedback.

1 Introduce the task and guiding questionStudents meet a phenomenon or problem and the guiding question.
2 Design a method and collect dataGroups plan an investigation and gather data.
3 Create an initial argumentGroups build a claim, evidence, and justification on a whiteboard.
4 Argumentation sessionGroups share, critique, and revise their arguments.
5 Reflective discussionThe class makes sense of the core ideas together.
6 Write a draft reportEach student writes a draft investigation report.
7 Peer review, revise, and submitStudents review each other's drafts, then revise and submit.