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

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 together. That means more student voice, more curiosity, and more learning that actually sticks. From wedge christies to steeper terrain, this conversation shows how the 5E model can make lessons more engaging, more memorable, and way more effective.

You’ll hear how the 5E model lines up with the PSIA teaching cycle, why “explore before explain” works so well, and how research backs up this student-led approach. If you’re a ski or snowboard instructor looking for fresh ideas that are practical, research-based, and easy to remember, this episode is packed with takeaways.

In this episode:

Why students should explore before they’re explained to

How the 5E model fits ski instruction

Ways to boost motivation and ownership

How to turn one skill into a transferable movement pattern

Why this method works especially well for adult learners

Simple, smart, and seriously useful for snowsports instructors who want better lessons without overcomplicating the process.