Developing instructional backup plans
What are some methods you use to develop backup plans for delivery instruction to your students?
Kimberly,
Great! One thing is students hardly ever will not benefit for more hands on or skills development. Good plan!
Barry Westling
I always have an additional lab activity in the event we complete the lab work for the day. If appropriate, we will move on to the lab work planned for the next class session.
Our Vet Tech classes entail "hands-on" development of skills so I tend to utilize any additional time to work on the students' skill sets.
Bernadette,
Great! Besides a back up plqan, this is also a good strategy to use in every day classes. It engages students, creates critical thinking opportunities, and sort of stretch's the students capabilities resulting in better retention and application of course content material.
Barry Westling
I was having some trouble keeping all the students at one time interested the lecture when I had some I lost others, so asked another instructor and she gave me a couple ideas that I tried. So far the one that worked best was let the class give the PowerPoint lecture while I asked the questions. This actually got the class asking more questions. It has actually worked well and the students are enjoying this form of lecture.
Stan,
Good back up plans are needed especially when technology fails or is unavailable. I think better plans are simple, easy to implement, low tech, applicable to the content, and enjoyable. Students don't want to feel like they're just doing "busy work".
Barry Westling
Since I teach IT classes, it is probably a little easier for me because I have a lab environment to work with.
If the lab exercises are not working properly I can go to a lecture also if the lecture is not going in the right direction I can break into a lab exercise. This flexibility works great.
Linda,
Super! I think anything that moves the student closer to achieveing course goals is worthwhile. Adult learners especially don't want to feel they're just doing busy work. So good back up plans need to be relevant, easy to transition to, and meaningful.
Barry Westling
Developing instructional back up plans are a must. Research on the computer is a good back up plan, discussing law cases, working on a group project is a good back up plan, and creating powerpoint presentations.
Ashley,
Some instructional activities can be fun at the same time. I think anytime a student willingly and actively participates in an activity that supports their learning, their going to see improved results in their learning.
Barry Westling
This cabbage ball game is such a good idea! I can't wait to ust it in my next review class!
Teresa,
Games can be instructional, if designed correctly. My caution is using games as "fillers for time". Adult learners want to feel their time has value and want lessons that contribute to learning, wahtever the specific activity may be.
Barry Westling
I make up Bingo games and jeopardy games. This keeps it fun for the students.
Heather,
These are good plans if they are available at the time they're needed. Often, a good back up plan needs to be used when normally available resources are not available, and therefore, the need for a good back up.
Barry Westling
The use of hands of activities. Games, puzzles, or simply a walk into a sim lab or another department that contains equipment that is relevant to what the lecture content is covering.
Ivan,
I find the better back up plans are low tech, easy to implement, especially on short notice, are related to the general subject matter, are interesting and enjoyable, and don't waste the students time. They will notice if an activity is mere "filler", or is significant to their learning.
Barry Westling
Start planning early. It is important that you have made your plan ready well in advance of a closure. Keep it simple, you are planning for the possibility that the campus could be closed for a relatively short duration. Know your technical skills. If you are completely unfamiliar or uncomfortable with a technology, it may not be the best alternative for you to include in your plan.
Emily,
Games are good, and actually studies have shown games use a different part of the brain, so it's a valid form of learning. Hopefully, camardariere is reinforced, along with competitiveness.
Barry Westling
If I am doing my lecture demo and notice students rolling their eyes or having a glazed over look on their faces I change the way I am teaching. I usually try to get them involved by finding out how the subject relates to them and start asking questions to individuals so they can share experiences. I also have had pop quizzes I give to the students relating to the information so I can review it quickly and see if there is a discrepancy in what they are learning. I have also used the game jeopardy to get the students involved in the learning process. We have the buzzer and light system which gets them very excited and competitive. This usually starts to get the class very interactive.
Dawn,
When I think of the use of a back up plan, it's mostly for when class activities I've planned can't happen for...xyz reasons. So I go to plan B. Here then, is where we want to have something that is pertinent, interesting, low tech, keeps students focused, and relatively easy to implement. Good back up plans can be integrated that students may not even know the difference. Some, like the computers in the lab aren't working, or the LCD projector buld burned out, are a good examp[les when having that back up plan is worth it's weight in gold!
Barry Westling
