PI 1.2 Subject Content

Rationale for Subject Content in Lesson Planning

The subject content in a lesson plan is important because it specifies what students need to learn in terms of knowledge, concepts, and skills. This makes up the basis for educational activities and, at the same time, allows the lesson to align with the larger curriculum goals and standards. When teachers clearly outline the subject content, they are better able to plan lessons that build on what students already know, create a logical sequence of new concepts, and reinforce learning through practice and application. In lesson planning, subject content also helps to outline instructional coherence. Lesson planning with subject content helps to ensure that each part of the lesson connects to each other and leads to the overall goals for student learning. This sense of focus helps teachers deliver instruction in a well-rounded and organized manner, and it helps students connect various aspects of the content to one another (Bruner, 1960). Additionally, outlining the subject content helps teachers plan for likely conceptual misunderstandings and guide student learning towards a deep and accurate understanding of the subject matter. In this manner, subject content supports effective teaching and learning by limiting student deficits in knowledge and increasing student thinking (Shulman, 1987).

References

Bruner, J. S. (1960). The Process of Education. Harvard University Press.

Shulman, L. S. (1987). Knowledge and teaching: Foundations of the new reform. Harvard Educational Review, 57(1), 122.