Lesson Plan Structure

Lesson Plan Structure

1. A lesson plan is the instructor’s road map of what students need to learn and how it will be done effectively during the class time

2. A successful lesson plan addresses and integrates the following key components:

   • Learning Objectives
   • Learning activities
   • Assessment to check for student understanding

3. STEPS FOR PREPARING A LESSON PLAN

   • 1. Identify the learning objectives
     • A learning objective describes what the learner will know or be able to do after the learning experience rather than what the learner will be exposed to during the instruction. Typically, it is written in a language that is easily understood by students and clearly related to the program learning outcomes.
   • 2. Plan the specific learning activities
     • When planning learning activities you should consider the types of activities students will need to engage in, in order to develop the skills and knowledge required to demonstrate effective learning in the course.
   • 3. Plan to assess student understanding
     • Assessments (e.g., tests, papers, problem sets, performances) provide opportunities for students to demonstrate and practice the knowledge and skills articulated in the learning objectives, and for instructors to offer targeted feedback that can guide further learning.
   • 4. Plan to sequence the lesson in an engaging and meaningful manner
     • Robert Gagne proposed a nine-step process called the events of instruction, which is useful for planning the sequence of your lesson. Using Gagne’s 9 events in conjunction with Bloom’s Revised Taxonomy of Educational Objectives aids in designing engaging and meaningful instruction.
   • 5. Create a realistic timeline
     • Here are some strategies for creating a realistic timeline: • Estimate how much time each of the activities will take, then plan some extra time for each • When you prepare your lesson plan, next to each activity indicates how much time you expect it will take • Plan a few minutes at the end of class to answer any remaining questions and sum up key points • Plan an extra activity or discussion question in case you have time left • Be flexible – be ready to adjust your lesson plan to students’ needs and focus on what seems to be more productive rather than sticking to your original plan.
   • 6. Plan for a lesson closure
     • Lesson closure provides an opportunity to solidify student learning. Lesson closure is useful for both instructors and students.