Online Lesson Planner: Top Advantages Of Using A Well-Designed Lesson Planner

An online lesson planner is a tool designed to simplify and expedite the development of a teacher’s lesson plans. This provides a level of organization and efficiency which helps ensure that teachers (and substitutes) are able to maximize efficiency and streamline lessons.  

Advantages of Using an Online Lesson Planner

Online lesson planners are as diverse as the lessons themselves. Regardless of the adopted format, there are several advantages to making use of one:

• Improved Efficiency

Online lesson planners provide teachers with an improved system of organization and a format that allows teachers to provide instructions for activities and instruction. Also, an online lesson planner can store files in multiple formats,  such as PDFs, videos, and podcasts, ensuring that all required resources are available at the educator’s fingertips whenever they are necessary.  Having the required resources available in the online lesson planner also makes it easier to distribute resources to students through the Learning Management System (LMS).  In the event of a teacher's absence, the online lesson planner provides access to the support a substitute would need.  In a profession in which time is always a limited resource, all of these efficiencies reduce teacher time on managerial tasks, allowing them to focus their time in other more important areas.

• Remote Access and Easy Sharing

An online lesson planner enables teachers to create a lesson from any location. It allows class instructors to plan their lessons more effectively while saving their time to focus more on delivering accurate lessons and improving student growth and engagement. Teachers can share, save, and edit learning materials on a schedule that is convenient for them.

• Reduction of Paper Costs

With the help of an online lesson planner, school teachers can reduce the financial costs associated with preparing a physical lesson plan. Since it reduces the need for physical resources, it can establish a paperless environment and reduce the cost of paper.  

• Allows for Prompt Lesson Modifications

An online lesson plan is ideal because it makes it easy to create a section for additional and optional content or activities for each lesson. Even when completed, teachers can access the lesson plans and provide updates, revisions, or changes to entered data based on recent trends, educational research, or just to ensure that there is a backup plan in case an activity finishes earlier than expected. As all lessons remain stored in one location, it is easy to reference other lessons and make connections to previously learned material.

Key Components of an Online Lesson Planner

Below are some key elements to keep in mind to plan effective lessons with an online lesson planner:

• Learning Targets

Learning targets are the desired student outcomes that form the foundation of lesson plan development. Teachers must clearly state these targets and outline the understanding, skills, or knowledge they want the students to gain at the end of every lesson. An online lesson planner should include a space specifically designed for entering these targets. In most districts, there are learning targets specified in a district curriculum that are aligned to appropriate state and/or national standards.  When the district curriculum is strong, aligning lessons tightly to the provided targets is important to ensure students are learning what they may be held accountable for through mandated assessments. The established targets should remain measurable, realistic, and in compliance with the learning standards for the grade level or course.

• Required Resources List

When making lessons using an online planner, it is helpful to list all the learning resources necessary to successfully complete each lesson. These learning resources might include PDFs, digital textbooks, or other online learning resources. This can be invaluable not only for the teachers themselves but also for any substitute who may need to take over this lesson. Additionally, ensure that digital copies of necessary learning materials are accessible to students.

• Student Assessment Methods

A teacher determines whether the students have learned the established goals for the lesson via student assessment. When creating lessons using an online lesson planner, make sure to describe the methods intended to assess student progress, both formative and summative.  It is also useful to provide a space for reflection, which helps a teacher to acquire feedback from students on what students found helpful and what was not effective throughout a specific lesson.

• Instruction Time

By far the largest section of the online lesson planner will be the space ordained for organizing the class instruction time. An online planner makes it easy to divide the class time into different methods of delivering and practicing the material.

Within the instruction time section, it is essential to designate how much time a teacher expects to spend on each part of the lesson to ensure that instructional time is used to maximum effect. This will not only help keep the teacher on track but will be invaluable to substitutes who may be delivering the lesson.

Make sure to use clear and detailed instructions about what information to provide and when, as well as how the activities work. However, also consider creating descriptions that are not too lengthy so it does not slow the content delivery. Keep the instructions brief but effective, covering any contingencies.

The Bottom Line

Organizing curriculum in an online lesson planner is an ongoing process.  However, as technology itself is ever-evolving, there are better ways to modify, organize, and structure lessons than ever before. These planners make it easy to organize a lesson plan into different components with clear, yet concise instructions for delivery, serving as adaptable resources to ensure that lessons provide the best learning experience for students.