Approach to Planning

Designing a Course:

Course Outline - When planning a new course I consult the curriculum guide to review the general curriculum outcomes to be covered throughout that course. I design a timeline for the course to follow based around these general curriculum outcomes, usually divided into specific into specific units.

Assessment - I use the course descriptors provided by the department of education to design my marking scheme for a course. Each type of assessment item would be worth a specific percentage of the course and each unit would comprise of a selection of assessment items.

Designing a Unit:

Establish Outcomes - I keep general and specific outcomes in mind when developing a unit.

Consider Students Interests and Abilities - As I decide what activities to do to meet outcomes, I try to keep the interests of my students in mind. By knowing my students interests and abilities it is easier to design engaging and meaningful activities for my lessons.

Differentiate Activities - I try to use a variety of methods and activities throughout each lesson to complement the diverse learning styles of students. The types of activities I use include: brainstorming; guided questioning; group discussion; demonstration; lecturing; practice; performance; graphic organizers; listening activities; worksheets; composition; improvisation; games; and movement.

Consider Assessment - Ideally, I would use several small pieces and one large piece of evaluation to assess a students comprehension of a unit outcome. The larger piece of assessment often involves performance or composition and takes several classes to complete.

Example: See Sample Unit Plan

Designing a Lesson: