Harris & Hofer's 5 Steps to Lesson Planning

Last week is class we talked about Harris & Hofer's 5 steps to learning. Harris & Hofer discuss five steps that educators should take when planning a lesson for their classroom that technology will be involved in. As a future educator, I feel that it is very important to plan lessons according to these five steps because these steps give all teachers the same strategies that will benefit their lessons and their students when using technological tools in the classroom. I know that most teachers have there own way of creating lessons, but by using these strategies, all teachers can build their plans on the same framework that is most beneficial for their students and their classroom. 

What are these steps you ask? Harris & Hofer's five steps include the following; 

1.  Choose a learning goal

This step is important because without creating actual learning goals, what is the point of your lesson? Having standards to base your lesson off of is very helpful and important to make sure your lesson is actually meeting the standards provided for the students learning. 

2.  Make pedagogical decisions

Thinking about the students actual learning experience is important. If teachers are not planning around learning needs of their students, then the lesson will not be effective to the students. By looking at and using the eight corresponding continua, teachers will have a better chance of connecting with their students and create lessons around their students needs. 

3.   Select activity types to combine

The teacher now determines what activities will help with the learning experience. This is an important step because deciding on an activity that will assist in students learning helps students become more engaged in the lesson.

4.  Select assessment strategies
Assessments are important in order for educators to know if their students are understanding what you are teaching them. If there are no assessments, there is no way to determine understanding or find struggling areas. 

5.  Select tools and resources
The last step, in my eyes, is the most important. This final step is where the teacher finally determines what technology tool they will use in their lesson. It is important to determine the tools and resources last instead of building your lesson around the technology you chose. 

I can honestly say I have not used this method when planning my lessons for classes and practicums, but I have seen a lot of other teachers plan their lessons this way. They use technology tools to increase the effect of their lessons instead of building their lessons around the use of technology. Technology tools should be used to better your lessons and make them more memorable and a better learning experience. If you are planning your lessons around the use of technology, you aren't really spending time on your lesson, but instead thinking more about the technology.