Backup delivery plans are great if the current instruction is not going as well as planned. It's great to have group activities, or other activities planned to re-direct the delivery of information,
I am a very structured person so I do a very detailed course outline for the students to review. I do not deviate from it much. The students so far have appreciated this. The course content is layered so when I discuss it, it increases with difficulty. If the students are just not getting it I stay at that layer. Plus, I do either a pop-quiz or open-class discussion to re-enforce the concepts of that section. At this point is when they begin to ask me questions on the topic.
What I use in developing back up plans is actually having extra presentations ready incase I get done early. Sometimes I get a really engaged class and I don't have enough time to finish a lecture so no backup plan is needed. Then I have classes that are not engaged so I end up getting through the data quickly even after trying to encourage discussions and asking questions. In those cases I have extra review presentations to go over with the students.
Having a backup plan is crucial to having a successful class. Things are going to happen that are outside of your control, such as computer or projector failures. Being able to continue on with the class demonstrates to the students your level of preparation and dedication to their education.
Barry,
One thing we have done in the past is to just get the students out of the classroom and present the material at another location. This can really help when the students are in Powerpoint overload.
Kent
Hi Lisa:
You listed some great examples.
The thing about back-up plans is that they should be able to be initiated on short notice, related to the current topic, be very low tech, and useful for students. They don't want to feel like you're just filling time.
Discussion orinted activities are always good to include since many classs have less time available for ths valuable activity.
Regards, Barry
I am a firm believer that there is always something constructive to do in the classroom. As a back up plan the students can practice taking vital signs and recording chief complaints. I keep tasks that can be done with the students, for example, reviewing medical terminology by playing a game with the words, to help the students with memorization. It takes a motivated instructor to plan ahead and keep the learning happening in the classroom even if the plan for the day is changed.
Hi Bernabe:
Good ideas. Personally, I think good back-up plans are succinct, easy to initiate on short notice, are related to the general topic area, are very low tech (discussion, worksheets, Q&A, DVD/videos), and provide productive time for the student so they don't feel like the teacher is just filling time because they have to.
Regards, Barry
Hi Holly:
Good example. Backup plans are good and needed from time to time. Better ones can be initiated on very short notice, are simple to implemment, are very low tech, and related to the general topic.
A couple examples might be Q&A, discussion, class worksheets, video's/DVD's, or stories about the work setting. Getting student reflection on work stories can be interesting and beneficial to the student, even given the circumstances the activities are being used.
Regards, Barry
Hi Denise:
These real life scenario's sound good. Students like stories, and you can always keep the students attention while sharing information they might use at some point in time.
Good back up plans can be initiated with little preparation, are relative to the general topic, and are very low tech. They're great for that one "awful" day when nothing is going as planned or circumstances prevent you from carrying out your plan. That's when the benefit will be appreciated!
Regards, Barry
as a backup plan, i always make sure I have hard copies of my lecture so that I can utilize the white board if I have to. I also make sure to print out outlines reviews and distribute that to students, that way, if plan A didnt work, I can always use the outline to have them work on while i diffuse the problem.
Powerpoint presentations are great if you have power, but "what if", you lose power, the computer doesn't work, or you just can't find your zip-drive. I've had that happen and was "lost" for about a minute. Then I had to use handouts, and an 'old-fashioned' chalkboard to teach my class. I quickly found out that it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be and the students really liked the class. I was able to demonstrate that I really knew my material, not just reading slides like some of the other teachers did with powerpoint.
I usually have a pop-quiz handy, or some real-life scenarios for the class to work on and I break up the class into small groups and have them work on these assignments.
Hi Angelina:
This sound like a good way to start a class.
Instructional back up plans are activities that can be initiated on relatively short notice, are applicable to the course or topic, and do not require much preparation or technology to use in the class.
These are activitis that are for whatever you hadve planned for the day cannot occur for whatever reason. Meaningful back-up or alternative lessons assure the student's time won't be wasted, and at least they're be some productive time used during class.
Regards, Barry
I always start my class with a review of past material in th form of answers and questions,so I can find out quikly who gets it or not and proceed accordingly
Hi Earle:
Good back up plans are something a teacher can initiate with little preparation, and very low tech. Examples might be discussion, Q&A, reheasing previous lessons, Jeopardy-like contests betrween student groups.
We want the material to be relevant and appicable so students don't feel "it's just a time filler".
Regards, Barry
Hi Kathleen:
Variety in the presentaion and delivery of information reaches more students and tends to be more memorable.
Regards, Barry
I always have a few samples to work through if they class seems to be "getting" the material a little quicker. I also know which sections can be trimmed if time is running long.
Hi Robert:
Good use and application of both the resource and the reference to material in these lessons.
I think back up plans, whereever they come from, should be esaily assessible, able to be initiated on short notice, and relae to the general topic at hand.
Group discussions or student guided instruction, or Q&A are pariculary good examples.
Regards, Barry
This refers back to the "journal" discussed in an earlier module. I refer to it as my "bag of tricks" that I can dip into at various points to either supplement, modify, or replace a scheduled lecture or activity. I make notes about what works for various points in the curriculum, so if I ever do need to vary, change, or delete something, I have something to plug in.
