The entry below contains an instructional unit on the topic of The structure of a Volcano. A sample task was completed showing how students would be guided on the lesson of properly labeling and describing the parts of a volcano. There is also a rubric that is based on assessing the competencies of the students. The importance of the  sample task is that it give students step by step instructions about the structure of the volcano and the rubric is used to assess the students levels of knowledge and understanding of the topic taught. The significance of the task and rubric creation allows the teacher to guide the students in delivering the lesson and creating a proper learning environment for learning to take place. The rubric gives the teacher a means of knowing how well the students understood the lesson.

The following is based on the concept of Technology Integration in delivering a lesson.  The entry captures two lesson plans that were developed with the inclusion of technology via videos to teach the concept of causes of urbanization and the use of you tube to assist students in developing a song and rap based on the effects of urbanization. Technology in this aspect is significant as the videos grasped the students’ attention and it reiterated the points presented by the students post presentation. The use of you tube gave the tune and beat that got the students excited to participate and kept them engaged in the lesson throughout. It allowed for the lesson to become fun and enjoyable which made the lesson effective. The selected class for this strategy is a forth form (4G) which consists of students with varying levels of intelligences and who learn through different methods.

The extract below entails a description of how technology was integrated into two lessons using Video as a set induction and composing a song and rap using tunes from youtube. It describes both the eas and the difficulties encountered in incorporating technology into the lesson. It discusses how I plan to further incorporate technology as a teching strategy post the Diploma in Education Programme and what measures that I have put in place to overcome the various challenges I encounter.

Task analysis is used in the classroom as a means of simplifying information for student in order for them to have a better understanding of the lesson and its objectives. According to Szidon and Franzone “Task analysis is the process of breaking a skill down into smaller, more manageable components”. When conducting a task analysis the teacher/instructor must take into account the students of the classroom, that is to say the varying levels of skills of the students, their ability to process information, their means of communication both with the teacher and their peers and their prior knowledge and experience of the given task to be completed.

The following entry is based on the concept of Instructional Scaffolding. It was first coined by the theorist Lev Vygotsky in his theory of Zone of Proximal Development. Instructional Scaffolding is significant in the development of student learning and education. Scaffolding involves the teacher designing a lesson and giving specific instruction, guidelines and support to the students in order to make the lesson more student centered and create independent learners.  Scaffolding is significant to show students that they can  take charge of their own learning with guidelines and support from the teacher/ instructor. The selected class for this strategy is a forth form (4G) which consists of students with varying levels of intelligences and who learn through different methods.

 The two selected teaching strategies utilized in the lesson plans were collaborative group work and jigsaw.  The collaborative group work and jig saw strategies were selected as the unit being completed is groups and institutions and by placing students to work in groups will give them a better understanding of groups and how they function in order to complete a task. Students tend to learn more through physical hands on activities and through collaboration with peers. The collaborative group work allowed students to try and complete a given assignment in a group and also highlight the factors that kept the group together to complete the task. Jigsaw was used to teach the advantages and disadvantages of the three types of leaders through peer teaching .