Elements of a Complete Teaching Guide

Familiarize yourself with these elements. Examples are provided in this module's Teaching Guide, which will open in a new window. You might have to switch to it manually from the Window menu. Open the Teaching Guide now. Switch back and forth between the examples and these descriptions.

Introduction (Optional): This part of the teaching guide provides a context for the WebQUest or curriculum web, explaining how it fits into a larger curricular or instructional context, welcoming the teacher or learner, and introducing any key concepts.

1. Aim:  one sentence (more or less) description of overall purpose of curriculum, including audience and the topic

2. Rationale:  paragraph describing why aim is worth achieving. This section would include assessment of needs.

3. Goals and objectives: list of the learning outcomes expected from participation in the curriculum. This section includes a discussion of how the curriculum supports national, state, and local standards.

4. Audience and pre-requisites: describes who the curriculum is for and the prior knowledge, skills, and attitudes of those learners likely to be successful with the curriculum.

5. Description of subject-matter:  designation of what area of content, facts, arena of endeavor, which the curriculum deals with.  (This is a further elaboration of the "topic" description in the Aim.)

6. Instructional plan:  describes the activities the learners are going to engage in, and the sequence of those activities.  Also describes what the TEACHER is to do in order to facilitate those activities. (This is like the traditional "lesson plan" except for a curriculum it may include more than one lesson.)

7. Materials:  lists materials necessary for successful teaching of the curriculum. Includes a list of web pages. Often, the web site will NOT be the only materials needed by the students. They may need books, tables, paper, chalkboards, calculators, and other tools. You should spell these additional materials out in your teaching guide.
Also includes the actual materials (worksheets and web pages) prepared by the curriculum developer, any special requirements for classroom setup and supplies, and a list of any specific hardware and software requirements.

8. Plans for assessment and evaluation:  includes plan for assessing learning and evaluating the curriculum as a whole. May include description of a model project, sample exam questions, or other elements of assessment.  Also should include plan for evaluating the curriculum as a whole, including feedback from learners. 

Proceed to Curriculum Standards