Software for Electronic Lesson Planning?

MS · Joined: 05 Aug 2007 Posts: 9

I'm just starting to think about making a change in my lesson planning as of
the next school year--doing it digitally, and saving paper. Also, I figure,
that should make it easy to look up what I have taught particular classes on
a certain day.

What software have people found useful for doing this (PC, also Pocket PC)?
It could be dedicated lesson plan software, or just other software that you
found useful for doing that. I'd like to be able to easily call up records
of what I've done before--for instance, all the lessons I have taught a
particular class, or look up a particular day, etc.Would a regular database
product, such as Lotus "Approach", or the one that comes with Microsoft
Office (sorry, I forget the name) be useful for that? (I haven't used a
database product before, other than PIMs such as "Outlook", so am not really
familiar with them.)

Any tips on how to do this would be appreciated. Thank you.

Archived from group: alt>teachers

TC · Joined: 05 Aug 2007 Posts: 1

Using your computer is a wonderful idea for your lesson plans. In
addition to saving paper, it will also save you a lot of time. I
usually create my lesson plans using Microsoft Word, I simply insert a
table into the document. This will allow you to add columns and rows
as needed, you can also adjust the height and width by simply clicking
and dragging. This is the simplest way for me. Using Word will not
allow you to perform the search you want. It sounds like you are
interested in much more than Microsoft Word alone has to offer. You
mentioned that you were interested in having the ability to recall
certain lesson plans. Access is the Microsoft Office application you
may be referring to. This application will allow you to perform
queries and filter out different things,it's a very intelligent
application. I think once you figure out which program or application
you decide to use, you will be very pleased with the results. Good
luck.

d buebly · Joined: 05 Aug 2007 Posts: 7

On Thu, 03 Jul 2003 01:05:38 -0700, JZAH wrote:

>On Wed, 2 Jul 2003 10:31:07 -0700, " MS"
> wrote:
>
>>I'm just starting to think about making a change in my lesson planning as of
>>the next school year--doing it digitally, and saving paper. Also, I figure,
>>that should make it easy to look up what I have taught particular classes on
>>a certain day.
>>

Realistically, you want a database, but you could do it more easily
with a spread sheet.

You would simply have to record the lessons date and key concepts and
file name.

You could also try a set form in MSWord, and link specific fields to
the spreadsheet or database for auto-entry.

You may want to check out filemaker pro, which is much friendlier for
setting up a database.

If you are using a pocket pc, you may want to stick with MS products

KSutton · Joined: 05 Aug 2007 Posts: 1

I am really curious as to how you do this?

Would you have any examples or places I can go to to learn how to do
this?

As we all know, funding is just not there anymore. Saving paper and
other supplies are going to be imperative.

Thanks for the post and I hope to hear back from you!!

KSutton

d buebly wrote in message news:...
> On Thu, 03 Jul 2003 01:05:38 -0700, JZAH wrote:
>
> >On Wed, 2 Jul 2003 10:31:07 -0700, " MS"
> > wrote:
> >
> >>I'm just starting to think about making a change in my lesson planning as of
> >>the next school year--doing it digitally, and saving paper. Also, I figure,
> >>that should make it easy to look up what I have taught particular classes on
> >>a certain day.
> >>
>
> Realistically, you want a database, but you could do it more easily
> with a spread sheet.
>
> You would simply have to record the lessons date and key concepts and
> file name.
>
> You could also try a set form in MSWord, and link specific fields to
> the spreadsheet or database for auto-entry.
>
> You may want to check out filemaker pro, which is much friendlier for
> setting up a database.
>
> If you are using a pocket pc, you may want to stick with MS products

MS · Joined: 05 Aug 2007 Posts: 9

"d buebly" wrote in message@4ax.com...
> On Thu, 03 Jul 2003 01:05:38 -0700, JZAH wrote:
>
> >On Wed, 2 Jul 2003 10:31:07 -0700, " MS"
> > wrote:
> >
> >>I'm just starting to think about making a change in my lesson planning
as of
> >>the next school year--doing it digitally, and saving paper. Also, I
figure,
> >>that should make it easy to look up what I have taught particular
classes on
> >>a certain day.
> >>
>
> Realistically, you want a database, but you could do it more easily
> with a spread sheet.

I'm not really familiar with spread sheets (such as "Excel") either. Could
you explain how to lesson plan using a spread sheet?

I tried it a little with Microsoft Outlook, using the Calendar, putting in
the plans as calendar entries, but I'm not sure that's a good way. And I
couldn't find a way to recall all plans from a particular class.

d buebly · Joined: 05 Aug 2007 Posts: 7

On 4 Jul 2003 07:32:36 -0700, gross@jamadots.com (KSutton) wrote:

>I am really curious as to how you do this?
>
>Would you have any examples or places I can go to to learn how to do
>this?
>
>As we all know, funding is just not there anymore. Saving paper and
>other supplies are going to be imperative.
>
>Thanks for the post and I hope to hear back from you!!
>
>KSutton
>
>
There are probably some online lessons for Excell and other SS
do a web search

As far as the spreadsheet, it is simply setting up the columns and
entering the data each date, try
date file name key concepts covered additional notes

you can search the fields for whatever date or word, etc you want

you could probably do the same thing with word and saving files in web
view and then building a web page

As far as the database and linking try these for a lesson, Databases
are incredible complex but that enables them to be more robust.

http://www.rdg.ac.uk/ITS/Topic/Database/DaPAcc9701/

http://fisher.osu.edu/~muhanna_1/837/MSAccess/tutorials.html

http://www.fgcu.edu/support/office2000/access/

>
>d buebly wrote in message news:...
>> On Thu, 03 Jul 2003 01:05:38 -0700, JZAH wrote:
>>
>> >On Wed, 2 Jul 2003 10:31:07 -0700, " MS"
>> > wrote:
>> >
>> >>I'm just starting to think about making a change in my lesson planning as of
>> >>the next school year--doing it digitally, and saving paper. Also, I figure,
>> >>that should make it easy to look up what I have taught particular classes on
>> >>a certain day.
>> >>
>>
>> Realistically, you want a database, but you could do it more easily
>> with a spread sheet.
>>
>> You would simply have to record the lessons date and key concepts and
>> file name.
>>
>> You could also try a set form in MSWord, and link specific fields to
>> the spreadsheet or database for auto-entry.
>>
>> You may want to check out filemaker pro, which is much friendlier for
>> setting up a database.
>>
>> If you are using a pocket pc, you may want to stick with MS products

d buebly · Joined: 05 Aug 2007 Posts: 7

On Fri, 4 Jul 2003 09:46:08 -0700, " MS"
wrote:

>
>"d buebly" wrote in message
>@4ax.com...
>> On Thu, 03 Jul 2003 01:05:38 -0700, JZAH wrote:
>>
>> >On Wed, 2 Jul 2003 10:31:07 -0700, " MS"
>> > wrote:
>> >
>> >>I'm just starting to think about making a change in my lesson planning
>as of
>> >>the next school year--doing it digitally, and saving paper. Also, I
>figure,
>> >>that should make it easy to look up what I have taught particular
>classes on
>> >>a certain day.
>> >>
>>
>> Realistically, you want a database, but you could do it more easily
>> with a spread sheet.
>
>I'm not really familiar with spread sheets (such as "Excel") either. Could
>you explain how to lesson plan using a spread sheet?
>
>I tried it a little with Microsoft Outlook, using the Calendar, putting in
>the plans as calendar entries, but I'm not sure that's a good way. And I
>couldn't find a way to recall all plans from a particular class.
>

You will have to do some learning about the basics of spreadsheets,
but the easiest way I could see it done it by is setting up your
columns with the date, and then for easy searching some key words, or
curriculum standard that indicates what was covered, then you could
insert the lesson plan, as a picture or text document or whatever, in
another field so you could access it rapidly.

I refuse to use outlook (and MS Internet Explorer), so I can't help
you there.

this is why: (please excuse the url name)

http://www.fuckmicrosoft.com/content/ms-hidden-files.shtml

MS · Joined: 05 Aug 2007 Posts: 9

"d buebly" wrote in message@4ax.com...

> You will have to do some learning about the basics of spreadsheets,
> but the easiest way I could see it done it by is setting up your
> columns with the date, and then for easy searching some key words, or
> curriculum standard that indicates what was covered, then you could
> insert the lesson plan, as a picture or text document or whatever, in
> another field so you could access it rapidly.

I opened one spreadsheet that I already have on my computer (although have
never used), the one that comes with Microsoft Works, and played with it a
little. All the information seems to have to be put in those little boxes. I
didn't see a way to expand the boxes. Sometimes my lesson plans are quite
detailed, and include a lot of words, how could that fit in one of those
spreadsheet cells?

Or, is that why you write "insert as a text document or whatever", you
actually write the plans in a program other than the spreadsheet, but just
organize them in the spreadsheet by inserting those other files in the
cells? (I don't know how to do that, but could look it up.) Then, when you
click on the file's name in the cell, that would open it?

MS · Joined: 05 Aug 2007 Posts: 9

"Jim Not-From-Here" wrote in message@corp.supernews.com...

> The suggestion was made that Excel (or other spreadsheets) could be used
to
> make PLAN books. Is there a link on how to do that? It seems to me that
> Word would be easier to use.
>
> Jim Wayne

Yes, just to make a lesson plan book, that looks like a standard lesson plan
book, a word processor would suffice.

But for someone who teaches multiple classes, I thought it would be nice to
be able to call up all instances of that particular class, and look at them
in order, to see what you've accomplished with them.

I'm still not sure how that would work with a spreadsheet, but I'll explore
it.

As I said, I tried it with the Calendar application in Outlook 2000, and ran
into a problem. I'll explain what I did. If anyone knows how to make that
work, or if it would work with a later version of that application, or with
a different calendar application, please let me know.

I tried putting in lesson plans as calendar appointments, at the time that
class actually happens in the week. I did that by setting a recurring
appointment, let's say every Wednesday at 9:00 AM, with such and such a
class. Then you would see that class on the calendar every Wednesday at 9,
as an appointment. (Of course, not yet with any lesson plans.) Then I
double-clicked one of the dates to open it. It asks you--do you want to open
the recurring appointment, or just this specific one? I chose the latter,
and then wrote in a lesson plan for that day. Fine so far.

Then later, if I wanted to see what I wrote that day, I could double-click
that day on the calendar again, once more choose that specific appointment,
and see what I wrote before. But if I double-clicked and chose "open the
recurring appointment", I wouldn't see anything in the "notes" field, where
I had written the lesson plan. I wanted to be able to call up all individual
instances of that recurring appointment, and see the lesson plans for each
date. But I couldn't find a way to do that. If anyone knows of one, please
post it, or mention another application that could do that. It would work OK
like that, to click on each individual date to see what you had done on that
date, but it would be nice to be able to call up all instances of that
class. It would be good to figure out how to do that this summer, and apply
it in the next school year.

I would think such a calendar application should be able to do that, as it
would have more uses besides teachers' lesson-planning. For instance, if a
businessman had an appointment with a particular person each week at the
same time. Then he would probably put that in as a recurring appointment.
But then he wanted to put in notes on particular days, of what he wanted to
discuss at the meeting. OK, that's possible. But he might well want to
review what has been discussed in that meeting for the last few months, and
pull up all records of that meeting. Seems like it should be possible, but I
couldn't figure out how to do that in Outlook 2000.

Any tips for how to set that up in Outlook or in another application would
be appreciated. Others might find that useful as well.

I'll be getting a PDA soon (Pocket PC), which comes with Pocket Outlook, and
Pocket Excel (though as I wrote, I'm not at all familiar with spreadsheets
such as Excel), and it would be nice next year to have my plans in my pocket
on the PDA, easy to recall all instances of a particular class, etc. Of
course, it will also have "Pocket Word" on it, but I don't see how a word
processor could do what I'm asking about. (Perhaps it's possible, with a
feature of Word that I'm not familiar with?)

d buebly · Joined: 05 Aug 2007 Posts: 7

On Sat, 5 Jul 2003 08:19:25 -0700, " MS"
wrote:

>
>"d buebly" wrote in message
>@4ax.com...
>
>> You will have to do some learning about the basics of spreadsheets,
>> but the easiest way I could see it done it by is setting up your
>> columns with the date, and then for easy searching some key words, or
>> curriculum standard that indicates what was covered, then you could
>> insert the lesson plan, as a picture or text document or whatever, in
>> another field so you could access it rapidly.
>
>I opened one spreadsheet that I already have on my computer (although have
>never used), the one that comes with Microsoft Works, and played with it a
>little. All the information seems to have to be put in those little boxes. I
>didn't see a way to expand the boxes. Sometimes my lesson plans are quite
>detailed, and include a lot of words, how could that fit in one of those
>spreadsheet cells?
>
>Or, is that why you write "insert as a text document or whatever", you
>actually write the plans in a program other than the spreadsheet, but just
>organize them in the spreadsheet by inserting those other files in the
>cells? (I don't know how to do that, but could look it up.) Then, when you
>click on the file's name in the cell, that would open it?
>

the works spreadsheet won't allow you to insert anything like a text
document, but you can stretch each field by just clicking in between
that A and B and stretching it as wide as you need, or going to the
Format section, but if you have that in MS works, then you have simple
database too, and the helpfiles that can sort of tutor you. Don't be
afraid, experiment with it.

Just start a blank database, and start entering your fields in,
Date, class, subject, key concepts, curriculum alignment,
lesson plan file name, and it will set it up like a spreadsheet, but
you can view it as a form. Again, it is a low powered Database, and so
cannot link to the original file. You may be able to make the database
field large enough to put the entire text of your lesson plan in, but
I am not sure.

H · Joined: 05 Aug 2007 Posts: 1

I've read through all the messages below - to date - concerning your
lesson planning problem and the idea of having it all available in an IT
format.

1. It will only save you time if:
a)you are familiar with computer us (good keyboard and mouse skills are
essential) - otherwise stick to using a pen;
b)if your Headteacher has designs on keeping you where you are for the
next year or more;
c) as a whole school (or at least as a Keystage) you use the same
program and format, otherwise if you move yerar groups (as I am this
coming Sept. and am leaving a whole years planning - Num, Lit, ICT, Sci
and all the other Primary subjects we Primary School teachers deliver -
and my exchanging colleague is not. If only she had done the same it
may have been so much easier, even if only as a guide!
d) when you come to revisit as[ects of your planning next year you can
quickly and easily modify your planning to account for changes in
differentiation - not all classes are equally competent!!!

2) I use MSWORD for mkost of my lesson planning. I have it at home and
we have it in school - both systems VIRUS PROTECTED!

HA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

MS wrote:
> I'm just starting to think about making a change in my lesson planning as of
> the next school year--doing it digitally, and saving paper. Also, I figure,
> that should make it easy to look up what I have taught particular classes on
> a certain day.

Hard copies (printouts stored in a dikensian file with annotations and
comments for evaluation purposes are essential! - H

> What software have people found useful for doing this (PC, also Pocket PC)?

Use what's prqctical and something you CAN use.

> It could be dedicated lesson plan software, or just other software that you
> found useful for doing that. I'd like to be able to easily call up records
> of what I've done before--for instance, all the lessons I have taught a
> particular class, or look up a particular day, etc.Would a regular database
> product, such as Lotus "Approach", or the one that comes with Microsoft
> Office (sorry, I forget the name) be useful for that? (I haven't used a
> database product before, other than PIMs such as "Outlook", so am not really
> familiar with them.)
>
> Any tips on how to do this would be appreciated. Thank you.
>
>

Dr. RW · Joined: 05 Aug 2007 Posts: 1

H wrote in message news:...
> I've read through all the messages below - to date - concerning your
> lesson planning problem and the idea of having it all available in an IT
> format.
>
> 1. It will only save you time if:
> a)you are familiar with computer us (good keyboard and mouse skills are
> essential) - otherwise stick to using a pen;
> b)if your Headteacher has designs on keeping you where you are for the
> next year or more;
> c) as a whole school (or at least as a Keystage) you use the same
> program and format, otherwise if you move yerar groups (as I am this
> coming Sept. and am leaving a whole years planning - Num, Lit, ICT, Sci
> and all the other Primary subjects we Primary School teachers deliver -
> and my exchanging colleague is not. If only she had done the same it
> may have been so much easier, even if only as a guide!
> d) when you come to revisit as[ects of your planning next year you can
> quickly and easily modify your planning to account for changes in
> differentiation - not all classes are equally competent!!!
>
> 2) I use MSWORD for mkost of my lesson planning. I have it at home and
> we have it in school - both systems VIRUS PROTECTED!
>
>
> HA
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> MS wrote:
> > I'm just starting to think about making a change in my lesson planning as of
> > the next school year--doing it digitally, and saving paper. Also, I figure,
> > that should make it easy to look up what I have taught particular classes on
> > a certain day.
>
>
> Hard copies (printouts stored in a dikensian file with annotations and
> comments for evaluation purposes are essential! - H
>
> > What software have people found useful for doing this (PC, also Pocket PC)?
>
> Use what's prqctical and something you CAN use.
>
> > It could be dedicated lesson plan software, or just other software that you
> > found useful for doing that. I'd like to be able to easily call up records
> > of what I've done before--for instance, all the lessons I have taught a
> > particular class, or look up a particular day, etc.Would a regular database
> > product, such as Lotus "Approach", or the one that comes with Microsoft
> > Office (sorry, I forget the name) be useful for that? (I haven't used a
> > database product before, other than PIMs such as "Outlook", so am not really
> > familiar with them.)
> >
> > Any tips on how to do this would be appreciated. Thank you.
> >
> >

that was a good posting...

Chris R · Joined: 05 Aug 2007 Posts: 1

" MS" wrote in message news:...
> I'm just starting to think about making a change in my lesson planning as of
> the next school year--doing it digitally, and saving paper. Also, I figure,
> that should make it easy to look up what I have taught particular classes on
> a certain day.
>
> What software have people found useful for doing this (PC, also Pocket PC)?
> It could be dedicated lesson plan software, or just other software that you
> found useful for doing that. I'd like to be able to easily call up records
> of what I've done before--for instance, all the lessons I have taught a
> particular class, or look up a particular day, etc.Would a regular database
> product, such as Lotus "Approach", or the one that comes with Microsoft
> Office (sorry, I forget the name) be useful for that? (I haven't used a
> database product before, other than PIMs such as "Outlook", so am not really
> familiar with them.)
>
> Any tips on how to do this would be appreciated. Thank you.

I have been doing lesson plans on the computer using a table in
Microsoft Word or using a spreadsheet. I also am curious if there is
software available to complete this task.

Kyle Walz · Joined: 05 Aug 2007 Posts: 1

I'm a teacher and have developed a web based lesson planning package.
It has three formats, one looks like the familiar lesson plan book,
and substitute plans. I'm looking for feedback about how to make this
more teacher friendly. Using technology in this way is something I do
and find very useful. It's nice having my plans for the year in a
small portable format. To get this lessonplanner off the ground, I'm
thinking about offering some account too.

Link to the on-line planner: http://www.hmdproducts.com/lessonplan

Kyle Walz

Zenovia · Joined: 05 Aug 2007 Posts: 1

Most of my lesson plans are created electronically. I just started
teaching this year. My teacher prep courses provided me with the
background needed to create a good lesson plan or syllabus.
Electronic print has both good and bad qualities. For example, some
students do not like reading material from the computer. They would
prefer the hard copy. However, some students perfer electronic
version of the syllabus or lesson plan. Furthermore, there are
students without access to word processers. This should be taken into
consideration. Also electronic lesson planning is form flow. This is
an easier format for the teachers. The teachers can just fill in the
information. It is much neater and faster. Teachers can spend more
time on educating rather than planning. The WWW would be a great
source to finding electronic lesson planning. Also, schools often
times provide their teachers with refresher course for teachers
wanting to learn this new technology.

siropga@yahoo.com (Kyle Walz) wrote in message news:...
> I'm a teacher and have developed a web based lesson planning package.
> It has three formats, one looks like the familiar lesson plan book,
> and substitute plans. I'm looking for feedback about how to make this
> more teacher friendly. Using technology in this way is something I do
> and find very useful. It's nice having my plans for the year in a
> small portable format. To get this lessonplanner off the ground, I'm
> thinking about offering some account too.
>
> Link to the on-line planner: http://www.hmdproducts.com/lessonplan
>
> Kyle Walz

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