Planning
early planning is an important strategy in teaching because it helps prepare the instructor in teaching students better
I agree that this is an essential part of teaching because it helps me stay on track in my teaching schedule and helps to better prepare the students.
Hi Krysti,
Let the class unfold. As you get into the class you will start to see how the class can be expanded to include different activities, projects and student interactions. It is easy to get a mental block on activities by trying to think through all of the possibilities. During the first two classes explore how you can get the students talking, asking questions and problem solving. Once you see this then the other weeks will start to fall in place with your planning and you will be over your mental block.
Gary
Thanks! I hope I'm over planning. I feel like I've been doing nothing but planning all week. I'm still having trouble coming up with activities. I'm okay for my first 2 classes. But then I hit a mental block for the following weeks.
Hi Krysti,
Set the time you are going to devote to these activities and then develop your activities around the time. For example have three activities that you want your student to complete in 15 minutes. Have the students work on the first activity and see how much time it takes to complete (you can use this information when you teach the course again). If the activity took the 15 minutes then you just do the one and get back to the lecture. By having extra activities if the first one only takes 5 minutes then you have something to fill in with for the remainder of time. Over planning really helps you to keep the class moving forward and meeting your desired schedule.
Gary
I am trying to plan my first class lecture and activies. But I'm having a lot of trouble figuring out how long each section will take. How do you figure out how much time to give students for activites?
Hi Joseph,
You are right on with your comment about early planning. It is necessary. What are some of the key steps that you could share with other instructors as they do their instructional planning.
Thanks in advance for your input on this.
Gary
