Revised Lesson Plan using the EdTech tool Nearpod CODE: BCAV8 (available until MAY 5th)
The original lesson plan is well-structured and covers all the key points about the World Wide Web. Although it does not explicitly state it, it is organized using the 5Es. It is somewhat engaging and interactive using strategies including videos, discussion and reflection guided by a worksheet. These strategies will help students learn the material effectively. However, the lesson could be improved as it could be more engaging.
The lesson begins with a discussion to activate students’ prior knowledge about the World Wide Web. This is followed by a video and whole class discussion which is used to clarify key concepts, including what the World Wide Web is, how it works, and how to access it. The lesson also includes a handout that will be used to assess what they learned.
The lesson concludes with a discussion about the importance of the World Wide Web and how it can be used in the real world. This will help students see the relevance of the material and motivate them to learn more in a future lesson.
Although this is an adequate lesson, the paper-based approach would be more suitable for my classroom of 12 years ago.
The revised lesson plan uses an inquiry based approach designed using the 5E instructional model and “emphasizes students’ active participation” (CUNY Hostos). This model “focuses on allowing students to understand a concept over time through a series of established steps, or phases. These phases include Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate” (HMHCO.com). Additionally, it provides a process for the teacher to facilitate learning minimizing the need for a teacher-led lesson.
The strengths of the revised lesson plan include:
- an engaging image and an open-ended question to encourage students to think critically and creatively.
- A hands-on approach to reinforce learning through the “explore” section
- A video explanation to further solidify student understanding via the “explain” section.
In addition to images and videos, this lesson is accompanied by a Nearpod (access code BCAV8). Nearpod is an interactive instructional technology platform that supports the 5E instructional model by providing tools and resources that can engage students in each phase of the model.
To engage students, I used images, and an open ended question where students will share their response with their classmates. This activity activates their prior knowledge and ideas. The exploration phase includes an interactive activity that allows students to investigate the topic. Video is used to “explain” followed by an open ended question. “Elaboration” would occur during discussion and “evaluate” would be the end of the Nearpod which captures student data.
