Lesson Plans
When I first started I really struggled with my lesson plans and sticking to them, but now they have helped me to stay on track, cover all the required material, and are often used as reference with my students when they tell me I did not cover a topic or didn't tell them about their upcoming assignments.
I find that it aids me in all those areas to. Before i was writing lesson plans, i felt rushed at the end of the module, sometimes craming to fit it all in.
This is definitely a challenge for me too. It does seem to help the students stay organized too when we can actually stay on schedule and stick to the lesson plan. I'm getting better at writing these, but even teaching the same class over again, my class sizes vary so much I am always editing.
When I started writing lesson plans in college, the plans consist of several pages long. Yes, LaTaviad, they are to cover all required materials needed.
Were your lesson plans really several pages long? That makes me wonder if I'm doing something wrong. Mine are one page, at the most. I genuinely don't have time to do more - I struggle with getting them done as it is.
The lesson plans that were used as an example were far more detailed than any I have used. I know in the future I will be incorporating more information on my lesson plans in order to make them more effective for me!
I use color on my lesson plans, I may highlight or bold key points that I know I need to reflect on or emphasize. I stay on task the more I reuse or add to existing lesson plans, also.
Marsha,
I agree. Highlighting lesson plans and lecture notes comes in "handy" when you are using them as a guide for lectures. You can just glance down at the notes and quickly find the highlighted titles, instead of scanning through the notes, while lecturing to the students.
Tremayne Simpson
I prefer using lesson plans because it allows me to build on the course each time I teach the course.
I would be completely lost without lesson plans - would never try to teach a class without them. I also use color highlighters to show what I absolutely have to do, and what I can hurry over or skip if time is short or the class does not seem to understand something so it takes more time to explain than usual.
I like to give my students a copy of my basic notes for a lesson to help them learn how to take notes and how to choose the significant material in their books.
I follow the same format of highlighting key points ,and try to question students on those in different ways.
It is interesting concept being used here. I will implement the hi-lighter system. I used the "Bolding" of key point but I think hi-lighting may be a bit more effective. thanks for sharing.
I agree. Lesson Plan helps a lot. It does helps you stay on track.
How do your courses 'build' upon each other? Are you talking about the same course? I could see a 'build' on prior courses such as:
Introduction to Finance
Intermediate Finance
Advanced Finance
Case Problems in Corporate Finance
But I cannot see any similar 'build' if I teach the same course over and over again. Can you explain what you mean?
KGBishop
Kenneth G.,
I believe that Louis is referring to teaching the same course. An instructor may add new learning supplements or could further diversify their instructional approach, which would essentially "build" the course. In addition, implementing new activities, projects or assessments can serve as a change to the student learning experience.
Tremayne Simpson
