WEEK+4+Planning+for+Learning

WEEK 4 PLANNING FOR LEARNING

Week 4’s lecture placed attention on lesson planning and their importance in the classroom. We looked at the La Trobe lesson plan format and touched on VELS references. I found the La Trobe format very thorough and an emphasis on engagement with continual questioning throughout the lesson. It’s content compliments Bloom’s taxonomy of ‘Knowledge, Comprehension, Application, Analysis, Synthesis and Evaluation’. I also think the reflection poses some thought-provoking questions. Although done after the lesson it is important for the teacher to break down the lesson and reflect with qualitative answers on their performance and the results. Through my netball coaching and work at sports camp I have used lesson planning and had times of just ‘winging it’. Using lesson plans gives much more structure and allows for clearer goals to be outlined and higher success of achievement. Although mostly thorough, I do think the La Trobe format does have its flaws. I think additional activities needs to be included. This would be especially important as a new teacher and not having a deep knowledge of the students and the time it will take for activities to be completed. It may become apparent in some activities that a backward step must be taken before new concepts can be introduced. Alternatively, tasks may be completed quickly as the skill level was underestimated, and as teachers we must be prepared for these scenarios. On top of this, I think time frames should be a crucial inclusion to ensure key areas are getting enough time and giving the lesson a perspective. What are your thoughts on time frames? I found this lecture equipped me with a very useful tool and thought it would be fitting to finish with a quote from today’s lecture; ‘Those who fail to plan, plan to fail’. -SARAH 24/3/2009

I think we are quite lucky to have access to lesson plans that comprise of key areas that are vital, and relevant within the realm of education. I wonder what lesson plans may have looked like ten or twenty years ago; would they consider ways in which to engage students with the topic? Would ‘catering for inclusion’ be taken into account? The lessons plan we have been introduced to have been extremely well thought out, and is organised in a way which really gets us thinking about our intentions behind our lessons. It helps us to stay on track with our purpose, and acts as a supportive resource by guiding us through the entire process. I do agree with Sarah, I believe time management for both the planning behind the lesson as well as the lesson itself to be a key element. Do the activities planned match the time frame? Have we given them too much/not enough time to undertake the task? I do believe that over time we will have a better concept of time; however this is something to consider. -MEGAN (24/3/09)

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I think time frames are an important factor and should be included in unit planners. How can we adequately plan a class and unit without estimating the time each activity will take to ensure all important aspects are covered. Before this class I had a vague idea of the type of planning which teachers need to undertake before each unit and class. The amount of planning and time needed to plan did take me by surprise as I thought a lot of the time teachers did take the “wing it” approach. ======

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I also agree with Megan and would like to see the type of planning undertaken by teachers 20 years ago. From what I can remember catering for inclusions was not a focal point when I was in Primary school and majority of classes consisted of the teacher teaching to the class as a whole. ======

BELINDA (28/3/2009)
This lecture on planning for learning, I found to be very informative as it gave us all an in site and the reality to planning importance. I also picked up the same quote; ‘Those who fail to plan, plan to fail’. Everything we plan has a vital purpose and learning outcome for our students. Before this lecture I was a bit overwhelmed by the process of lesson planning but after being introduced to the La Trobe format I was impressed by its clarity and simplification which helps us be more prepared with students engagement and classroom activities, it allows us as teachers to stay more focus on learning objective, maintain structure while obtaining high levels of achievement. I too believe a vital part of that planning is time management and how long we allocate for each task is something I understand we might not get right all the time but I think this will get better as we progress as teachers. - KRYSSIA (28/3/09)