Lesson Planning and Instructional Materials and Devices

Lesson planning is a crucial element of the constructive teaching-learning

process supplying the teacher with a coherent framework of teaching and assisting
with the smooth flow of the lesson. It can be considered as a teacher’s road map of
what students ought to learn and how it will be done effectively during class time.
The objectives of this study are to find out to which extent teachers apply the design
elements of the lesson plan and to investigate their perceptions of the importance of
these elements. Results showed that teachers apply the design of the lesson plan
and their perception of the importance of the lesson plan is high. Moreover, there
was no statistically significant differences in teachers’ practices and perception
according to gender or experience years. While there was a statistically significant
difference in their perception according to academic qualification, teacher who has
educational qualification certificate was significantly higher than those who haven’t.
Our result suggests the necessity for teachers to obtain educational qualification
certificates.
One important dimension in teacher education that is getting a lot of attention
is related to the use of instructional materials. Instructional materials are those
materials used by a teacher to simplify their teaching. They include both visual and
audio-visual aids and could either be concrete or non-concrete. These instructional
materials bring life to learning by stimulating students to learn. The use of
instructional materials in the classroom has the potential to help the teacher explain
new concepts clearly, resulting in better student understanding of the concepts
being taught. However, they are not ends in themselves but they are means to an
end (Kadzera, 2006). It is held that good teaching resources can never replace the
teacher but the teacher uses them to achieve their teaching and learning objectives.
Some of the instructional materials necessary for effective teaching and learning of
Arts include the chalkboard, models, graphs, charts, maps, pictures, diagrams,
cartoons, slides, filmstrips, radio, and television (Kochhar, 1991). The importance of
the use of these materials cannot be underscored. Instructional materials are
essential since they help the teacher and learners avoid overemphasis on recitation
and rote learning that can easily dominate a lesson. Resource materials allow
learners to have practical experiences which help them to develop skills and
concepts and to work in a variety of ways. Social, economic, and Technological
influence Lesson Planning Technology in the classroom has altered how students
learn beyond teacher teaching and textbooks, as well as how instructors evaluate
pupils. Student involvement is increased by technology. If instructors can teach the
same subjects in new ways, this technology may give alternative chances and
simulations to make learning more engaging. Teachers, for example, diversify their
instruction by using a variety of instructional systems and apps. Teaching variations
promote the learning process and involvement, which might be difficult to do in a
regular classroom. Teachers may utilize technology to optimize their lesson
preparation techniques to offer collaborative activities with students or among
peers. Instructional technology provides unparalleled opportunities for collaborative
learning. Advances in technology have made sharing information easier than ever
before. Today, educators have access to digital tools that allow students to work
collaboratively outside of the classroom, discussing ideas or completing projects
remotely and eliminating constraints such as standard classroom hours or
geographic location. Instructional technology also provides opportunities for
students to work collaboratively with teachers, discussing ideas or asking questions
outside of the physical classroom. For example, teachers could hold digital office
hours, making themselves available via instant messaging or video chat to support
students as they tackle the day’s homework.
Instructional materials serve as a channel between the teacher and the
students in delivering instructions. They may also serve as the motivation for the
teaching-learning process. It is used to get the attention of the students and
eliminate boredom. Instructional materials are highly important for teaching;
especially for inexperienced teachers. Teachers rely on instructional materials in
every aspect of teaching. They need material for background information on the
subject they are teaching. Young teachers usually have not built upon their expertise
whenever they enter into the field. Teachers often use instructional materials for
lesson planning. These materials are also needed by the teachers to assess the
knowledge of their students. Teachers often assess students by assigning tasks,
creating projects, and administering exams. Instructional materials are essential for
all of these activities