lesson plan, why it is important for teachers?

Introduction 

    A lesson plan is a teacher’s detailed description of the course of instruction or ‘learning trajectory’ for a lesson. A daily lesson plan is developed by a teacher to guide class learning. Details may vary depending on the preference of the teacher, subject being covered, and the needs of the students. There may be requirements mandated by the school system regarding the plan. A lesson plan is the teacher’s guide for running the particular lesson, and it includes the goal( what the students are supposed to learn), how the goal will be reached( the method, procedure) and a way of measuring how well the goal was reached ( test, worksheets, homework etc.) 

Why is lesson planning important?

    Every teacher is required to prepare a lesson plan because this is considered as guide for the day’s lessons. Lesson planning is important because it gives the teacher a concrete direction of what she/he wants to take up for the day. Research has shown that student learning is correlated to teacher planning. One major explanation is that when plan is ready, teachers can focus on its implementation. When teachers do not have to think so much about what they need to do next they are able to focus on other parts of the lesson. Lesson planning is important because it helps teachers ensure that the day-to-day activities that go on in their classrooms are providing students with an adequate level of long –term progress toward the goals outlined in their scope and sequence, as well as their individual education plans when necessary.

     An effective lesson plan includes several elements: learning objectives, quality questions, supplies and activities. It is important to have the learning objectives in mind because those should drive the development and implementation of all activities in the classroom. Quality questions are inquiries that the teacher plans to direct at the students over the course of the lesson. Sometimes these questions are rhetoric in nature, but more often they are designed to help the student think at a higher level than simple memorization and comprehension. It is important to come up with a plan for assessment to determine whether the class has met its targets.

Need of lesson planning-

1. Through lesson planning the subject is organized properly.
2.  It keeps the teacher free from the faults of thoughtless teaching. 
3.  It makes the proper atmosphere for learning process.
4.  The teacher also gets a clear idea about when they should start evaluation and when they should proceed to the next lesson. 
5.  Lesson plans helps in organized teaching and saves time. 
6.  Lesson plans allow the teacher to apply appropriate strategy. 
7.  Teacher will be more prepared and confident while teaching the lesson.

Good lesson plannig-

1.  Lesson planning should be in a written form. 
2.  In lesson planning, the general and important objectives should be clearly defined. 
3. The lesson plan should relate to suitable teaching method and its use. 
4. A continuity component reviews and reflects on content from the previous lesson. 
5. Subject, time , class, average age of the students should be mentioned in the lesson                 plan. 
6.  Important examples should be included in lesson planning. 
7.  Inspirational or motivational methods should be experimented in lesson planning. 
8.  In lesson planning, the time for each topic should appropriately be pre determined. 
9. In lesson planning, the techniques and supportive materials of education like charts, maps and other audio-visual materials and its utilization should be written. 

HERBARTIAN APPROACH OF TEACHING 

 While Herbart emphasized only four steps, i.e. clarity, association, system and method, his followers modified the  four steps. Thus, the five steps are termed as Herbartian five steps of teaching. 

 Preparation/Introduction 

                  Some questions are asked from the pupils in order to test their previous knowledge so that curiosity may arouse in them for learning of new knowledge. By testing their previous experiences pupils are prepared for acquiring new knowledge. 

 Statement of aim 

              Here, the topic becomes clear to the pupils and the teacher himself is supposed to write the topic on black- board in clear words. 

 Presentation 

                   The lesson is developed with the cooperation of the pupils. Opportunities are provided to pupils to learn themselves by stimulating their mental activity. The teacher tries to receive most of the point from the pupils by questioning so that the new knowledge may get related to the previous knowledge. 

 Comparison and Association 

                      In this, the facts, events and application taught are related mutually by comparison to enable the pupils to understand the taught material. The teacher establishes a relationship between two subjects and also between the facts and events of one subject and the facts and events of other subject. The compares them so that the new knowledge may get stabilized and clarified in the minds of the pupils. 

 Generalization 

                  Herbart termed this step as ‘system’. After explaining the main lesson, the pupils are provided with opportunities to think. They formulate such principles and rules which may be used in various situations of the future life. 

Application   

            In Application it is observed whether the acquired knowledge may be applied to the new situations. The teacher verifies this by asking recapitulate question or by providing opportunities to apply the acquired knowledge in the new situations. This stabilizes the new knowledge and validity of the rules may also be proved. 

HERBARTIAN LESSON PLAN MODEL