The CLEAR Model—standing for Context, Layout, Engagement, Alignment, and Rigor—is a flexible instructional framework designed to enhance the quality of both in-person and online teaching. It helps educators create structured, engaging, and outcome-driven learning environments. In in-person settings, CLEAR emphasizes storytelling, clear agendas, interactive teaching, inclusive classroom culture, aligned goals, and cognitively challenging activities. In online courses, it ensures that lessons are presented through well-organized modules, detailed assignment descriptions, and consistent communication. It also encourages rich student engagement through tools like SpeedGrader, peer review, and personalized feedback. By aligning content with learning objectives and promoting critical thinking, the CLEAR Model supports deeper understanding and long-term retention. Ultimately, it serves as a practical guide to help faculty design thoughtful, inclusive, and academically rigorous learning experiences across all modalities.
CLEAR In-person and online by M. Clifford
Context: When sharing resources and lessons, use storytelling, real-life examples, interactive tasks, open-ended questions, and practical scenarios to enhance engagement and motivation for learners.
Layout: In class, use a structured agenda with clear objectives, creative teaching methods, student participation, comprehension checks, feedback, breaks, and a summary for engagement and effective learning.
Engagement: Foster a supportive classroom culture by valuing every voice, promoting open communication, updating teaching methods, utilizing technology, and nurturing curiosity for academic and personal development.
Alignment: Make sure students are in sync with the goals and incorporate knowledge checks for assessments. Metacognition can help in achieving alignment.
Rigor: Improving the quality of classroom activities with the aim of helping novice learners remember information and progress towards mastering expertise.
Context: Canvas pages provide detailed lessons, assignments have clear descriptions, discussions include background and purpose, and students understand the significance of each activity.
Layout: Ensure organized modules and items for a clear learning path with clear pages. Provide supportive assignment descriptions and maintain consistency in labeling and tone across all elements.
Engagement: Canvas pages show enthusiasm for the course subject matter. Provide substantial and timely feedback (using SpeedGrader). Use of the group or peer review feature on assignments
Alignment: The activities, lessons, and outcomes align with course objectives using deliverables as milestones. Modules and descriptions aid in progress, with assessments and rubrics linked to objectives.
Rigor: Promote critical thinking skills with reflection, analysis, and experiential learning. Support objectives, structured practice, and creative assessment methods for student evaluation. Give guidance on meaningful assignments and assessments.