Having a back up plan
This is very important because students always want to know what's next.
Latasha ,
I would say any back-up plan should be something more than just a time filler but add realistic, if not significant information to the class. Involvement, interaction, or activities such as as small group discussion are great because they are pertinent to the current course topics and can be implemented on short notice. Just an example.
Barry Westling
I agree effective backup plans do allow the teacher to do an alternate activity.
Hi Rita,
I think we've all had days where what was planned cannot happen for whatever reason. That's when a good back-up plan can be extremely valuable. I suggest something low tech, related to the general topic, able to be implemmented on short notice, and engages students, rather than someting static (i.e., a video).
Barry Westling
Hi Paul,
You've identified one of the great benefits of back-up plans, that is of alternating between what was planned to what is needed at a particular moment. Our purpose is to facilitate instruction. That can be accomplished following a prepared curriculum, but at times, something more or different is needed to achieve our goal. A back-up plan is just what's needed at times.
Barry Westling
It's better to have more than less. I can't say enough you must have a backup plan most time things will happen and changes will be made so..get a backup plan...
I find that having a second plan of action allows me to change the way that I teach the class based on how it is flowing. If certian areas run long or short I have a plan that I can use to still get the students the information needed while also helping to keep the class on track. This also allows me to keep the class interesting and different for me as an instructor.
Hi Craig,
In life, we carry a flashlight, or a candle, or a fuse, or a bandage, or.... So it is in school. We want to prepare for the best and plan for the wort. A good back-up plan is worth it's weight in gold (sort of) when called into action.
Barry Westling
I don't do anything without a back up plan.
Hi Michelle:
Back-ups are great and can be used as an instructional tool in many ways.
Regards, Barry
Hi Michelle:
You're right. But also, sometime things just cannot go as planned, so that's when having a simple to implkemment back-up plan is priceless. Something you can transition to with little preparation, is relevant to the topic, and is interesting and enjoyable for students. Nobody wants to feel they're time is being wasted or "biding time" by the instructor.
Regards, Barry
Yes - I find that if they know what is next they are more comfortable in the class. It is always the "unknown" that frustrates all of us.Right?
Hi Scott:
Yeah, too much info, or information overload ends up helping no one. So having a variety of alternative assignments, and varying different exercises can keep class moving along and maintaining the students attention and focus.
Regards, Barry
I usually monitor how the class is going and want the student engaged fully.Pushing things up or down helps to keep the class authentic and not shove info down there throat.Having a plan B makes it all possible and keeps the students stress down!!!!!!
Hi Tim:
Right. I think there two kinds of back up plans. One is a basket full of different activities that are potentially available to select from to make class enjorable and convey needed information as part of the planned objectives for the day.
The other is like an emergency plan, for when we can't do something as planned, so we reach for our backup plan to "save the day". This kind of activity is low tech, can be implemmented on short notice, requires little preparation, and is relevant to the couse topics.
In either case we want all activities to be meaningful for students.
Regards, Barry
It's really not about the students wanting to know what's next more so than your need to retain the students attention by any real means necessary.
Hi Ayesha:
Effective backup plans allow the teacher to do an alternate activity when what is planned cannot happen for whatever reason.
Regards, Barry
