Teach English Now! Lesson Design and Assessment

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/lesson-design

Introduction

### Course Review: Teach English Now! Lesson Design and Assessment In today's fast-paced and ever-evolving educational landscape, effective lesson planning and assessment methods are crucial for fostering a productive learning environment. The **Teach English Now! Lesson Design and Assessment** course on Coursera is a comprehensive and insightful program designed for both novice and experienced educators who aspire to enhance their teaching skills. #### Course Overview The course begins by introducing learners to the foundational principles of lesson design, drawing upon the insights of renowned theorists such as Robert Gagne and Benjamin Bloom. Throughout the course, participants will explore essential components of lesson planning, including the creation of learning objectives, assessment strategies, materials selection, and the development of engaging learning activities. A key element of the course is the emphasis on aligning lesson design with individual teaching philosophies, which encourages reflection and personal growth. #### Syllabus Breakdown The course is structured into five modules, each targeting a specific aspect of lesson design: 1. **Basic Instructional Design**: This module lays the groundwork by teaching key concepts in lesson planning, including how to gain student attention and stimulate recall. Learners will also gain an understanding of basic classroom management skills, making this module incredibly valuable for new teachers. 2. **Activating Background Knowledge and Objective Discussions**: Here, participants delve into the art of warm-up activities and their significance in connecting new lessons to prior knowledge. The module emphasizes the importance of engaging students right from the start and ensuring they understand the lesson objectives. 3. **Presenting Instruction and Modeling**: In this module, the focus shifts to effective instructional strategies. Learners are introduced to the concept of "stickiness" in content delivery—essentially how to make lessons memorable. The importance of modeling as a tool for effective instruction is also highlighted, giving educators insight into various teaching strategies. 4. **Guided to Independent Practice**: Participants learn about the spectrum of guided and independent practice, supported by practical examples from classroom scenarios. This aspect of the course helps teachers understand the different phases of student learning and the importance of scaffolding in lesson plans. 5. **Assessments**: The final module centers around designing effective assessments aligned with learning objectives. Educators are equipped with strategies to evaluate different learning types and insights into practical assessment methods, ensuring comprehensive evaluation of students’ understanding. 6. **Final Review**: The course culminates in a summary of key concepts and the submission of a final lesson plan for review, providing a hands-on opportunity to apply what has been learned. #### Course Recommendations **Target Audience**: This course is ideal for educators at all levels, from those who are just starting their teaching journey to experienced teachers seeking to refine their skills. It provides a broad range of strategies that can be applied in various educational settings. **Advantages**: - **Comprehensive Content**: Covering essential aspects of lesson design, this course provides valuable frameworks and methodologies that every educator can benefit from. - **Practical Examples**: The use of "Three Teachers" videos and other real-world examples allows learners to see theory in practice, reinforcing concepts and techniques. - **Reflective Learning**: The emphasis on aligning lesson design with personal teaching philosophies encourages educators to reflect on their practice, leading to greater self-awareness and professional development. **Considerations**: While the course is structured effectively for online learning, participants should be prepared to engage actively with the material and apply their knowledge critically. It may require a certain level of commitment and time to fully benefit from the comprehensive syllabus. ### Conclusion The **Teach English Now! Lesson Design and Assessment** course is a valuable resource for anyone looking to enhance their teaching repertoire. By equipping educators with a robust understanding of lesson planning and assessment methods, it fosters a deeper connection between teaching and learning outcomes. Whether you are new to the profession or looking to enhance your existing skills, this course is highly recommended for its practical, research-based approach to education. Enroll today on Coursera, and elevate your teaching practice to new heights!

Syllabus

Basic Instructional Design

In this module, learners are introduced to lesson design based on theorists such as Robert Gagne and Benjamin Bloom. Learners are introduced to concepts to both begin a lesson (gain attention, state objectives, stimulate recall) and give a lesson (present the content, provide learning guidance, elicit performance). This module also introduces learners to a general lesson plan template that will be used throughout the course and to basic classroom management skills.

In this module, learners are introduced to warm up activities, and how warm ups not only can introduce a lesson's theme but also can be used to connect that theme to previous learner knowledge and previous lessons. Objective discussions are also introduced, and advice about when and how to give objective discussions is given.

Learners are introduced to the concepts of presenting instruction and modeling. Learners are introduced to the concept of "stickiness," and given several words of advice on how to make content sticky. Modeling is also depicted as a way in which to help learners to see what teachers are trying to explain, and can be a powerful form of instruction itself. Learners are counseled to have more than one model, and are cautioned about presenting models too early.

In this module, learners are introduced to the importance of guided and independent practices of lesson planning. In our "Three Teachers" videos, learners will view different examples, both strong and weak, of teachers facilitate guided and independent practices and receive breakdowns and analysis of each teacher.

In this module, learners review the concept of clear objectives and are introduced to the idea of alignment. Learners are introduced to the ideas of memory and knowledge learning and how to appropriately assess each type. Learners are given several tips to make their lives easier (regarding assessment). Learners see three teachers give assessments in their classrooms and hear analysis of each one.

Each of the concepts covered in Modules 1 - 5 is summarized. Learners will submit their completed lesson plan for review.