Applying the 5E Instructional Model to Ski Instruction with Joe Taylor

First Chair: PSIA-AASI Podcast · Jul 21, 2026 · 21m

What if the secret to better ski lessons came from science class? In this episode of First Chair, George Thomas sits down with Joe Taylor to talk about a surprisingly powerful teaching framework: the 5E instructional model. Joe breaks down how Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate can help ski instructors create lessons that feel less like a lecture and more like an “aha!” moment on snow. Joe shares how his background in physics, science education, and ski instruction led him to a simple idea: students learn better when they discover the feeling first, then put the pieces…