Session Planning
Reviewed: January 2008
This page has been kept for reference.
It will no longer be updated by ICVET.
Do you need a session plan? Yes!
Sound planning and preparation are the keys to successful delivery.
In your session plan you need to provide the documentation for the session structure. It helps you keep track of where the session is going and where it has been. It can also save a lot of time when you need to present the same lesson again.
When you first begin to teach, your session plans will probably be quite formal and detailed. As you gain experience with both the subject matter and the process of teaching and learning, you’ll find yourself writing your plan out in your own form of ‘shorthand’. This is OK. The important thing is not the document itself, but the process of planning and reflecting on how you will scaffold learning for your students.
You will need to look at a range of things when you plan how to best help your students learn.
What should a session plan include?
- Topic/name of session
- Session goal
- Session outcomes
- Length of session
- Timing of session components
- Key points of session
- Session content
- Learning activities and delivery methods
- Resources and facilities.
Remember, failing to plan is planning to fail!
Websites
Writing Learning Outcomes
Sound and logical advice provided by the American Association of Law Libraries – the last four subheadings in particular. It’s a short article – very worthwhile.
Writing learning outcomes for the Core Curriculum
Some additional direction on how to write learning outcomes.
World of Education: Adult Learning In Groups
Useful outline on the nature of adult learning and group learning. This includes references for further reading
Student Learning Outcomes:An Internet Hotlist on Learning Outcomes
Western Washington University site. This site has a range of information and articles on outcomes and assessment and other things! It’s worth having a poke around here.
Vocational Education Performance Standards. ERIC Digest No. 96.
From the United States, an interesting article on vocational education performance standards and outcomes from ERIC (Educational Database)
NCVER Teaching and Learning
NCVER site for a range of articles on teaching and learning. The National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) is a not-for-profit company owned by the state, territory and federal ministers responsible for vocational education and training (VET). All good! Have a browse!