By the end of this unit you should be able to:
Explore systematic approaches to designing effective university lessons.
Effective lesson planning transforms learning objectives into structured, engaging experiences. University teaching benefits from established frameworks that guide the flow from introduction through practice to application, ensuring students progress systematically through new concepts and skills.
This unit introduces proven staging models including PPP, ESA, and Task-Based Learning. You'll learn to sequence activities logically, manage time effectively, create detailed session plans, and refine your teaching through micro-teaching practice and peer feedback.
The PPP model begins with instructor‐led input (Presentation), transitions to controlled practice of new concepts, and culminates in authentic production tasks. In higher education, presentations should integrate discipline-specific examples, while production stages can involve mini-projects or peer-teaching to deepen application.
Design a lesson using the PPP framework by sequencing activities appropriately:
Instructor-led input
Controlled practice
Authentic tasks
You have 90 minutes for a programming fundamentals class. How would you allocate time across PPP stages?
ESA starts by engaging learners' interest, moves into focused study of language or concepts, and finishes with activation through communicative tasks. Task-Based Learning emphasizes real-world tasks as the core, with language study nested within task preparation and follow-up. Both frameworks complement PPP by varying focus on form and meaning.
Choose the best framework (PPP, ESA, or TBL) for different teaching scenarios:
Select frameworks for all scenarios to see your score.
Guided discovery invites learners to infer rules or patterns through targeted questioning and data analysis. Flipped classrooms invert content delivery—students review lectures or readings in advance and engage in interactive problem-solving during contact time—maximizing active learning and instructor coaching.
Design a guided discovery sequence for teaching programming loops:
For a statistics course, what should students do BEFORE class in a flipped model?
A robust session plan outlines each stage's duration, required resources, and the roles of instructor and learners. Templates typically include columns for stage name, aims, activity description, interaction pattern (e.g., pair work), materials, and timing. This structure supports seamless delivery and adaptation.
Complete a session plan template for a 90-minute data analysis class:
| Stage | Aim | Activity | Interaction | Materials | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warm-up | Activate prior knowledge | Individual → Pairs | Quiz handout | 10 min | |
| Introduction | Present regression concepts | Whole class | Projector, dataset | 25 min | |
| Practice | Apply regression analysis | Groups of 3-4 | Software, worksheets | 35 min | |
| Production | Synthesize and present | Groups present | Presentation space | 15 min | |
| Wrap-up | Consolidate learning | Individual reflection | Exit tickets | 5 min |
You planned 90 minutes but your introduction ran 15 minutes over. What's your best adaptation strategy?
Rehearsing segments of a lesson in micro-teaching sessions allows instructors to refine pacing, instructions, and materials before full implementation. Peer observers use checklists to provide targeted feedback, enabling iterative improvement and confidence building.
Design a 10-minute micro-teaching session focusing on one specific skill:
Select focus, content, and audience to generate your personalized micro-teaching plan.
Observer Checklist:
Feedback Summary:
After receiving peer feedback, what should be your first priority for improvement?
Test your understanding of lesson planning and staging:
1. In the PPP model, what characterizes the "Production" stage?
2. ESA framework is particularly effective when:
3. Guided discovery learning works best when:
4. A comprehensive session plan should include:
5. The main benefit of micro-teaching is: