Evidence-based Guidance
How can you use EdTech tools to support lesson planning? To find out, read through the guidance at your own pace.
These tips will help you effectively choose and use EdTech tools to develop teaching knowledge and skills.
1. Make sure the resources encourage effective pedagogic practices.
Collaborative lesson planning and the use of model lesson plans can give ideas and stimuli for lesson planning and can support teachers individually to prepare their lessons. But it’s important to use model lesson plans and classroom material that demonstrate effective teaching planning and practices. For example, lesson plans that include student interaction encourage teachers to use interactive activities.
2. Make sure the resources align with national curricula where possible.
It’s important that resources fit within the system they’re being used in and support student progression and development according to the curriculum. Alignment with the scope, sequence, and pace of the curriculum is key.
3. Make sure the resources provide subject-specific examples and pedagogies.
Teachers will be able to use the resources more effectively if they align with the subjects they are teaching and if the suggested instructional activities align with the subject content and skills being taught.
4. Make sure the resources encourage collaboration and reflection among teachers.
Lesson planning resources should be used in a way that encourages collaboration and reflection among teachers since evidence shows such practices improve teaching. The lesson planning resources can be used to stimulate discussion. This can encourage teachers to integrate the resources into their teaching and use them effectively to address any challenges they may be facing.
5. Make sure the resources are relevant to teachers’ language, culture, and context.
Lesson plans will be most effective when they are contextualised to the needs of teachers. Invest in contextualising the classroom material so you can maximise its impact.
6. Tailor the tools to teachers’ needs.
Teachers attending TPD will be teaching different subjects and different grades and will have different needs and expectations when it comes to classroom material. Novice teachers may have fewer ideas about models of effective lesson planning, while experienced teachers may have a better grasp of preparing and using their own lesson plans, activities, and other classroom material. Here’s how you can tailor tools for lesson planning to meet the needs of your teachers.
For novice teachers:
- Use scripted lesson plans that can guide novice teachers on foundational instructional activities.
- Use structured lesson planning resources that model effective teaching practices, and encourage teachers to develop their own effective classroom activities and plans.
- Use lesson planning resources as a basis for discussion. Ask teachers to reflect on the resources and how they would adopt them in class.
- Encourage teachers to discuss perceived challenges with using the resources, and to collectively brainstorm solutions.
- Integrate lesson planning resources into TPD programmes to give teachers examples of what to use in their classrooms.
For experienced teachers:
- You can use unstructured resources that teachers can mix and match to make their own lesson plans.
- Use lesson planning resources as a basis for discussion. Ask teachers how they would use the resources and how they would adapt them.
7. Make sure the resources can be used at scale within the existing digital infrastructure.
For example, if teachers are in low-connectivity settings, it is important that they can use the tools for lesson planning offline.
Who Can Use These Tools and How?
Teachers
- Use resources to plan effective lessons and save time spent on lesson planning.
- Adapt the content to suit your context, and share it with peers at TPD sessions so they can benefit from the adapted content.
TPD coordinators
- Share resources with teachers within TPD sessions.
- Use resources as artefacts to model effective teaching practices.
- Use material as stimuli for discussion, reflection, and planning.
- Encourage teachers to use new resources in their own teaching.
School leaders
- Make sure teachers have time in their schedules to access the resources.
- Encourage them to use the resources in class.
- Observe teachers’ classes to see how the resources are being used and support them to use them better
Policymakers
- Make resources available to teachers, for example, in an e-library or in print.
Curated Tools for Lesson Planning
1. Kolibri
🔗 https://database.edtechhub.org/tools/kolibri/
Description
Kolibri is a platform offering high-quality Open Educational Resources in several languages. It includes an in-built curriculum alignment tool and pre-organised, adaptable content libraries. Resources can be used offline, making Kolibri suitable for low-resource settings.
Key features
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✓ Encourages effective pedagogic practices
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✓ Can align with national curricula
-
✓ Subject-specific examples and pedagogies
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✓ Encourages collaboration and reflection among teachers
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✓ Contextually relevant
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✓ Can be tailored to different teacher levels
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✓ Suitable for limited digital infrastructure
2. Funda Wande
🔗 https://learningequality.org/kolibri/about-kolibri/
Description
Funda Wande provides teachers with teaching resources and lesson plans for maths and reading. Materials are available in text and video formats and are free and open source, allowing for easy adaptation. Each resource includes both a learner activity book and a teacher guide.
Key features
-
✓ Encourages effective pedagogic practices
-
✓ Can align with national curricula
-
✓ Subject-specific examples and pedagogies
-
✓ Encourages collaboration and reflection among teachers
-
✓ Contextually relevant
-
✓ Can be tailored to different teacher levels
-
✓ Suitable for limited digital infrastructure
3. The National Academy
🔗 https://www.thenational.academy/
Description
The National Academy offers Open Educational Resources across most subjects, from pre-primary to Grade 11. Content includes video lessons, teacher guides, and PowerPoint activities with lesson plans. As the materials are open source, they can be easily adapted to meet teacher needs.
Key features
-
✓ Encourages effective pedagogic practices
-
✓ Can align with national curricula
-
✓ Subject-specific examples and pedagogies
-
✓ Encourages collaboration and reflection among teachers
-
✓ Contextually relevant
-
✓ Can be tailored to different teacher levels
-
✓ Suitable for limited digital infrastructure
4. Edraak
Description
Edraak is a platform offering free teaching and learning materials in Arabic. Teachers can access a question bank and additional resources to support and improve their practice.
Key features
-
✓ Encourages effective pedagogic practices
-
✓ Can align with national curricula
-
✓ Subject-specific examples and pedagogies
-
✓ Encourages collaboration and reflection among teachers
-
✓ Contextually relevant
-
✓ Can be tailored to different teacher levels
-
✓ Suitable for limited digital infrastructure
5. British Council English
🔗 https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/
Description
British Council English is a free platform offering lesson plans and teaching resources to support English language instruction.
Key features
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✓ Encourages effective pedagogic practices
-
✓ Can align with national curricula
-
✓ Subject-specific examples and pedagogies
-
✓ Encourages collaboration and reflection among teachers
-
✓ Contextually relevant
-
✓ Can be tailored to different teacher levels
-
✓ Suitable for limited digital infrastructure
6. Oppia
Description
Oppia provides open-source, quality-assured foundational maths lessons, alongside a range of community-created content. Teachers can contribute their own lesson plans or adapt lessons developed by others.
Key features
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✓ Encourages effective pedagogic practices
-
✓ Can align with national curricula
-
✓ Subject-specific examples and pedagogies
-
✓ Encourages collaboration and reflection among teachers
-
✓ Contextually relevant
-
✓ Can be tailored to different teacher levels
-
✗ Not suitable for limited digital infrastructure
7. CK-12
🔗 https://www.ck12.org/student/
Description
CK-12 offers free, curriculum-aligned lesson plans and resources across subjects such as maths, science, and English. It also provides customisable digital textbooks that can be adapted to different teaching contexts.
Key features
-
✓ Encourages effective pedagogic practices
-
✓ Can align with national curricula
-
✓ Subject-specific examples and pedagogies
-
✓ Encourages collaboration and reflection among teachers
-
✓ Contextually relevant
-
✓ Can be tailored to different teacher levels
-
✓ Suitable for limited digital infrastructure
8. OpenUp Resources
🔗 https://access.openupresources.org/curricula
Description
OpenUp Resources offers free, open-source maths and English materials aligned to the US Common Core. The resources are high quality, can be used offline, and are supported by professional learning events for teachers. Some maths resources are also available in Spanish.
Key features
-
✓ Encourages effective pedagogic practices
-
✓ Can align with national curricula
-
✓ Subject-specific examples and pedagogies
-
✓ Encourages collaboration and reflection among teachers
-
✓ Contextually relevant
-
✓ Can be tailored to different teacher levels
-
✓ Suitable for limited digital infrastructure
