Evolution of lesson planning

Lesson planning is a fundamental aspect of effective teaching. As a course coordinator, one of my key responsibilities is to provide detailed lesson plans to the instructors teaching at the same level. However, this was not always the case. In the early 2000s, I provided graduate students with lesson plans for the first few weeks of the course, but they were expected to gradually take on the responsibility of developing their own lesson plans with my guidance and support. (see a document I shared with them). This approach allowed them to build their lesson planning skills while ensuring that they had a strong foundation to begin their teaching . 

One of the advantages of sharing common lesson plans is that it ensures consistency in the material covered, the activities used, and the pacing of the class across the multiple sections. Language classes often involve a variety of activities (e.g., vocabulary exercises, grammar drills, conversation practice, listening comprehension), and without a detailed plan, novice teachers may struggle to balance these activities within the limited class time. In language classes, it is essential to engage students through a variety of activities that address different skills (e.g., listening, speaking, reading, writing) and cater to different learning styles (e.g., visual, auditory, kinesthetic). A lesson plan with diverse activities ensures that the lesson remains dynamic and engaging and a good lesson plan helps teachers to make efficient use of class time, ensuring that each activity is given adequate attention. Furthermore, language teachers should incorporate opportunities for active learning, such as group work, pair work, role plays, and communicative tasks, which are essential for language development. Additionally, lesson plans should define the learning outcomes for each class. By setting clear, measurable objectives, teachers can ensure that students understand what they are expected to learn and achieve by the end of the lesson. Finally, a good lesson plan should be student-centered. Some students may need more visual aids to understand vocabulary, while others may benefit from hands-on practice with speaking activities. By considering these different needs, well-thought-out lesson plans allow teachers to create a more effective learning environment that is inclusive. 

The lesson plans I create for graduate students and adjunct faculty have evolved significantly over time, adapting to both technological advancements and changes in teaching formats.

Before the pandemic, my lesson plans were structured in a table format (see example), which included clear details such as learning objectives, time allocations for each activity, whether activities were conducted individually, in pairs, or as a class, descriptions of the activities, and suggestions for transitions between tasks. Additionally, I created programmes hebdomadaires—weekly schedules— in a word document format that I would print to share with students. These documents outlined both the in-class activities and the daily homework assignments, ensuring that students were well-informed and able to stay on track, even if they had to miss a class.

With the shift to remote teaching during the pandemic, I experimented with Google Docs in my teaching. Upon returning to in-person teaching, I was working primarily with adjunct faculty, and we collectively decided to adopt Google Docs for our lesson plans. This format provided more flexibility than the rigid table structure, allowing me to include not only the learning objectives and activity descriptions, but also links to supplementary resources, and screenshots of textbook exercises. This approach proved to be more accessible for instructors, offering them a comprehensive and easily navigable plan for each session (see example). 

This year, in addition to the enhanced Google Doc lesson plans, I now create programmes hebdomadaires directly in Canvas. These weekly schedules are presented in a clear table format, listing the activities covered in class as well as the corresponding homework assignments. Instructors can choose to publish either the Google Doc lesson plans or the Canvas-based weekly programs (or both) for their students, offering additional flexibility in how lesson content is shared.

These ongoing improvements reflect my commitment to providing clear, accessible, and adaptable resources for instructors and students alike, while also embracing new tools to support teaching and learning in diverse environments.