If an instructor is not sufficiently prepared, credibility of the instructor is compromised. What is more,if an instructor has a well thought out plan, the instructor is in a better position to adapt the plan as needed.
Hi Myra,
You make a key point about the need for good planning and that is it shows the students that you care about their success. By putting forth the effort to plan a proper course sequence you are telling them that you are excited about your field and are looking forward to sharing content with them. This helps to set a positive tone for the class.
Gary
Hi Marie,
You are right about the need to have the course mapped out and well planned. This reduces much concern and pressure on the instructor while giving the students opportunities to really understand how the course is going to flow.
Gary
If you start planning early enough, it allows for adjustment as you are getting closer to deadline. With plans, as you progress, you may find that a future component will necessitate a change to an earlier component for the most successful goal achievement.
Students comment on errors (which will no doubt crop up, due to human error.) and they recognize the difference between thorough preparation and hap-hazard preparation. You are modeling a work ethic, and they pick up on that. They forgive human error, but what is perceived as laziness brings resentment. You need the student to perceive that you are working hard for them, and they in turn will work hard for you.
being able to set the tone will stave off classroom management issues in the future
The teacher needs to be able to present the lecture in a form that may be receptive to student's different learning styles.
When your lesson plans are mapped out with buffer time built in for unforseen snags, there will be no rushing to complete needed requirements at the end of the course.
Hi Wendy,
Many instructors feel the same way. There is so much to do with all the classes, organization, etc.. The strategy is to focus on one course and get it where you want it to be. Get everything laid out for it and then move to the next course because if you try to do everything at once nothing is going to get done. This approach is much like the old question--"How do you eat an elephant?" Answer--"One bite at a time." This is the way to approach instructional planning. Pick the most critical task and get it done then move on.
Gary
I just feel so overloaded with the number of classes that I teach that I can't possibly be exceptionally organized the way I'd like to be for them all, let alone feel prepared for each and every class. How do you go about this struggle?
Being prepared about the info needed in class gives you more confidence when instructing the class.
bdurham
It is important to know what will be needed ahead of time so it will be available at the time you are presenting information to students. It is also important to know and consider student or class issues and concerns regarding a topic or particular assignment prior to presenting the material so you can already have a way to present this material in alternative way if needed. For example, going into the group project I already know that some students may have had a bad experience with a group project in the past or just prefer to work on their own. Knowing this enables me to be more effective in my approach by addressing these issues up front and assuring students that I will assist in the group project process so this experience will be a great one, so that everyone knows their individual and collective roles, and so this can be a fun experience.
I agree with the back up plan. I try to have a few activities planned, so that I can use one that will engage the class on a given day. I have taught several courses more than once, and the methods vary depending on the number of students - it is a different task to have 6 or 26 students.
It's that much easier to achieve a successful environment conducive to learning when you plan ahead! If you have a good understanding of your own intentions and communicate them effectively to your students, then it helps to keep both you and them on task.
When planning I think about "the end in mind". I like to start backwards and then go forward. What steps do I need to take to ensure student success?
Comprehensive planning ensures that learning objectives/outcomes are achieved each time you lead a class session. Planning provides you with the time to organize how your class will will spend its valuable, and short time. Planning helps to guides the lecture, activities, and discussion to achieve deeper understanding of the material and course objectives. The instructor shoud always have a plan for each class to help guide and direct the learning. Otherwise, without a plan, you run the risk of confusing students and wasting their time.
Hi Jim,
Good point and well said. Planning is essential if success is going to be achieved. Without it teaching is going to be very difficult and the course verrrrrrrrry long.
Gary
I find that comprehensive planning is vital to the success of any course that I teach since "Prior Planning Prevents Pxxx Poor Performance." This is something that I have used in my entire career and I have found it to be very beneficial to my success in anything that I attempt. This "6 P" acronym has many variations but they all state the same thing in different ways. Anyway, without planning almost anything that you attempt is either doomed to fail produce the resutls that you intended.
So that you can use the entire time to teach and so you can set the model for the student.
Amy
I agree with you. Failing to plan is planning to fail. This is a basic concept in project management. The syllabus provides the course directional plans, to the students and the instructor; without it the intended lesson(s) would be lost.
Hello Liz
I agree 100%, if you have not studied the syllabus you are not prepared to teach the class. Students can detect if the instructor is prepared and organized.
