The concept of gradient, as it relates to education, is a gradual ascent or descent in the intensity of the content of a presentation. The way in which the presenter consciously or unconsciously uses gradient can predict the ability to keep all participants enrolled in the presentation. The presenter can be "on gradient," "under gradient," or "over gradient." When thinking about gradient, consider the following scenario. Think about cooking a frog. If the frog is dropped into a pot of boiling water, it jumps out. This is a natural physiological response to sudden intense heat. However, if the frog is put into a pot of lukewarm water and the temperature is gradually increased, the frog gradually adjusts to the increasing temperature until cooked. Dropping the frog into the boiling water is clearly over gradient, whereas gradually raising the water temperature is on gradient. If the instructor is presenting difficult material or concepts, it is critical to raise the intensity gradually.
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