Hi Thomas:
Great. Back-upplans can help when thing don't go as planned, or if students need an extra assignment, or if a stronger student wants extra work, or if extra time at the end of class is available, a back-up activity is great to fill (and not waste) the students time.
Regards, Barry
When developing my lesson plan I found out through experience that I should have a back-up plan or two.
Hi Judith:
Revision should be a topic in teacher education graduate school! To be effective, we have to be adaptive to situations, and willing to modify what we have planned to fit the circumstances. Some are able to be more extemporanaeous with this, but whether on the fly, or via a prepared back-up activity, we should be ready to make the class session work to it's fullest potential.
Regards, Barry
Having a backup plan is imperative. We create lesson plans but lesson plans are meant to be revised as necessary. If we find that our students are not grasping the information because of a background knowledge deficit or because they are having difficulty with a particular learning concept we can adjust our plans to accommodate student needs. If we require more time than exected on one area, we can chose a smaller assignment for the end of class.
Hi Denise:
Games, discussions, internet research, textbook exercises are among the most used and or popular backup activities, because they don't require too much preparation and can be made into an interesting activity when shared with the class. Also, students don't feel like it's just a time filler.
Regards, Barry
Hi David:
Back-up plans can be very useful, two main reasons you cite. So students don't feel we're just filling time or wasting class, the back-up needs to be relevant, low tech, easy to implemment on short notice, interesting, and enjoyable by students. The more variety the better.
Regards, Barry
Good afternoon,
In my backup plans for teaching my classes, I try to have games to reinforce the topics of the day with a "reward" at the end--for example, a game of "jepardy" with a prize of bonus grade points to help with the learning of laws.
I always have a back up plan. sometimes the equipment you plan to use is down for the day. I use video and handouts as a back up plan for my lecture. Also, if I see I'm not getting the message across to some students my back up plan come in handy and is very useful.
Hi Kris:
For me, a good back up plan can serve multiple purposes. One is for when we're having one of those days when everything planned can;t happen for whatever reason. These should be low tech, easy to implemment on short notice, and relative to the course topic.
Another is to have more varied activities than time will allow. The benefit is mixing up exercises to keep the class upbeat and lively by using diiferent learning strategies.
Regards, Barry
I like to have student activities such as breaking into small groups to discuss topics as a backup plan if time permits.
Hi Emma:
For me, a good back up plan is usually low tech, something a pull out and implemment with little preparation, and is interesting and relevant to the course topic. A discussion or some prepared exercises can be good back-ups, for instance.
Regards, Barry
Hi,
I believe that we need to plan to plan; I also believe that we donot need to keep our eggs in one basket.
Just to ensure that we do not get bored ourselves when we see our students bored, I normally would prepare a video presentation integrated into my discussions, or an online quiz such as "Test your emotional quotient, test your stress tolerance, etc.
I do my best to shift the attention of students on the traditional blah, blah, blah, soometimes I feel that they get tired looking at the same face :-)
Hi Rebecca:
Good idea. Most textbooks have supplemental exercises that most teachers don't necessirly plan to use but can provide a great resource for additional study. And as you say, it can also assist with students who may need additional help or demonstrate their mastery of the material. Students like games, too.
Regards, Barry
I at times use the smaller exercises in the book and have each student present them tothe other students in class. This way it shows if they are 1. learning the material and 2. Understanding enough to explain things back to the class.
The other back up plan is using some of the games that are design with the course material.
Hi Chris:
Demonstrations are nearly always a great way to reinforce practical skills. This is like repetition which usually students can't get enough of.
Regards, Barry
I use real world demonstrations along with props.
Hi Kay:
Back-up plans can be lifesavers! I think we should always have more material available than time to do it. That will provide opportunity to use a bit of variety and change of pace to keep the lesson interesting. Also, we'll have a back-up plan for unforeseen circumstances.
Regards, Barry
For each topic to be covered, I have backup material to cover in case the time needs to be stretched. This is the vital, up front information required. The back up is some experience examples and other useful items that I add if there is sufficient time.
Hi Mark:
Repitition is good as long as it's not boring. We can be creative while being repititious, as this enhances leaning and long term memory retention.
Regards, Barry
Hi Henry:
Good thoughts! For me, good back up planns are anything that is revelevant, low tech, interesting to do, and requies little preparation. Often, we have to use back up plans for whenever whatever was planned cannot occur for whatever reason. We don't want to waste the student's time.
Regards, Barry
