Lesson plans are vital components and without them disorganization is
inevitable. After searching the web in the English/ESL/Language Arts
field, I came to realize that many lesson plans follow the same basic
structure; the teacher teaches, students listen and complete an activity
and homework is assigned. However, when coming across this particular
lesson plan I understood that not any lesson plan will do. I picked this
lesson plan because it is different in the way it allows the teacher to
do something few teachers do and that is to give up control.
While many teachers use technology as an aid, the use of computers in
this lesson takes away the idea where students are receptors of the
lesson and that the lesson is controlled by the teacher. In fact, in
this lesson the teacher serves as a facilitator. Keeping in mind the
topic of the lesson, perfecting the alphabet and learning new
vocabulary, it is clear that any gaps between the curriculum goal and
teaching strategies are closed through the use of computers. It is true
that any other lesson plan without technology may work in reaching the
curriculum goal through lectures and assignments, but will it stick in
the minds of the students when language acquisition is in fact a natural process? By allowing the students to participate in more authentic and natural
activities such as creating personalized alphabet books, illustrations,
and self-voiced recordings, the use of computers here is in perfect
alignment with both the curriculum goal and teaching strategies. Without
computers in this lesson the curriculum goal would not be met since a simple lecture and discussion would not create the natural atmosphere needed.
Other
forms of technology like cameras can also be used since they create
natural atmospheres. For example, if the students go on a trip and take
pictures of objects/animals instead of illustrating them in a lesson
like this, they would recall from real-life experiences to truly
understand the lesson, hence staying consistent with the way language is
naturally learned.
Spreadsheet URL: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AjOJ-0FHxSH7dHp1Y2l2WlRNcXVaalBIM3VhU25FbUE&usp=sharing
