Examples of Preparation Activities in Technology-anchored Lessons
Preparation in the PAR framework is synonymous with what happens — or should happen — before learning. The architect Frank Lloyd Wright may have expressed the goal for preparation best: “You can either use an eraser on the blueprint or take a pickaxe to the foundation.” Some teachers think that they should not “waste time” finding out what knowledge students bring to a topic or what background they might need. But not taking this time beforehand can lead to failed lessons and limited learning. For instance, a student teacher working in an urban middle school in the United States was teaching a lesson about Martin Luther. She launched right into an excellent lecture — excellent in terms of content — and finished right before the bell rang. “Are there any questions?” she asked.