To pinpoint effective learning strategies to guide their lesson plans, educators must first determine their learning objectives. They must also create lesson plans that engage various learning styles by combining visual, auditory and tactile methods of relaying information.
Teachers must also vary their projects, assignments and types of assessments. This practice will give their students opportunities to demonstrate their knowledge individually, in small groups, as a class or with partners.
Individually
Provide opportunities for students to learn independently by making reading assignments, by requiring them to select their own works to read or by asking questions that they must complete.
You can also have them research and analyze a topic, and then create questions that they must answer or brainstorm a list of questions based on their prior knowledge of a given topic.
Partners
Working with partners allows students to explore concepts together, and then help each other fill in the gaps in their own knowledge. Partners can work through problems together, analyze situations or ideas, role-play or teach each other assigned topics.
Small Groups
Small group assignments create a learning environment where natural leaders can shine and other group members can learn by example. Small groups often spark great debates that help students see ideas and concepts in new ways.
They also create effective self-awareness because students are forced to solidify their own ideas before presenting them to the group.
To ensure that each member contributes and stays on task and engaged, assign a different role to each person and utilize concepts like literature circles where roles constantly switch and each person is responsible for gathering feedback.
Whole Class
Lesson plans that incorporate the entire class allow teachers to have more control and guide students to conclusions that aide in the learning process.
Teacher-led discussions also give students a chance to demonstrate their thinking process as teachers lead them to logical, thoughtful answers. Whole class lessons give teachers more control because they can stop frequently to check for understanding.
These types of lessons also allow the incorporation of technology such as PowerPoint slides, videos or other audio/visual aides.
One-on-One
Due to time restraints, this may be the most difficult type of learning tactic to incorporate into a teacher’s unit plans. However, one-on-one instruction allows students to ask questions until they fully understand a concept.
These teaching moments also build a stronger connection between teachers and students, forging a positive environment of trust that helps foster learning. In writing, one-on-one meetings are critical because teachers can give students direct feedback instead of just making comments on a page.