ABSTRACT
Component Display Theory (CDT) is not a method but, rather, a theory about those components that comprise every instructional presentation. In order to use CDT, a designer must select an instructional method that incorporates the prescriptions of the theory appropriate for the performance and subject matter content to be taught. This chapter briefly outlines the CDT in the overview section. It presents lesson fragments representing the application of CDT to different instructional objectives concerning lenses and the microscope. The chapter indicates the specific prescriptions from CDT that were used in preparing each lesson fragment. CDT is comprised of three parts: a two-dimensional performance-content classification system, a taxonomy of presentation forms, and a set of prescriptions relating the classification system to the presentation forms. The CDT prescriptions for teaching Remember-Generality-Concept could be implemented in several ways. The lesson fragment included presents a reference example followed by definitions for each of the components of the definition of focal length.
