A Lesson Plan, A Syllabus,...A Perfect Recipe?

Following a syllabus or a lesson plan is a bit like following a recipe.

All three are based on prior knowledge and experience, drawing on good practices to achieve a positive outcome, and as Jacques (PBS NewsHour, 2016) points out, plans need to be adapted to fit the specific situation you’re faced with. Blindly sticking to the plan without considering which variables might change the results can spell disaster.

This idea of having a guide not only allows an educator to develop a personal style but also allows for a more thoughtful delivery which considers variation right from the start making accommodations less of an afterthought and part of the initial design. This is universal design for learning (CAST, 2024), or as Jacques said, a way of massaging the plan to suit the given conditions. To me, this feels like a perfect metaphor for adaptable, effective and supportive teaching that promotes the achievement of the learning outcomes.

Reference:

CAST (2024). UDL: The UDL guidelines, udlguidelines.cast.org. https://udlguidelines.cast.org/.

PBS NewsHour (2016, April 13). Jacques Pepin says following a recipe can lead to disaster, PBS NewsHour, pbs.org. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/jacques-pepin-says-following-a-recipe-can-lead-to-disaster.