Lesson Planning and Schemes of Work Flashcards
6 cards from real PGCE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Lesson Planning and Schemes of Work flashcards as text
What does 'cognitive load theory' (Sweller) suggest for lesson planning?
Answer: Lessons should be designed to avoid overloading working memory, breaking new content into manageable chunks
Cognitive load theory shows that working memory has limited capacity — lessons should chunk new information, use worked examples, and reduce extraneous load to prevent overwhelm.
What is 'spaced practice' and how should it inform medium-term planning?
Answer: Distributing practice of content across time rather than massing it — schemes of work should build in revisiting of prior content
Spaced practice (distributed practice) is a well-evidenced memory strategy — revisiting content at spaced intervals improves long-term retention compared to massed practice.
What is the role of 'success criteria' in lesson planning?
Answer: They define what quality work looks like at different levels, giving pupils clear targets to aim for
Success criteria describe the evidence of achievement at different levels, helping pupils understand what they need to produce and enabling self-assessment and teacher feedback.
What does 'interleaving' involve and how does it apply to scheme of work planning?
Answer: Mixing different topics or skills within practice sessions, rather than teaching one topic to completion before starting another
Interleaving mixes practice across different topics — research shows it improves long-term learning and transfer compared to blocking (finishing one topic before starting another).
Why is 'formative assessment' embedded within lesson planning?
Answer: To allow teachers to identify misconceptions and adjust teaching in real time before pupils move on
Formative assessment embedded in lessons — through questioning, exit tickets, whiteboards — gives immediate feedback to both teacher and pupils, allowing responsive teaching.
What is a 'learning episode' approach to lesson planning?
Answer: Structuring lessons as a series of distinct activities, each with a specific purpose and cognitive demand, building towards the overall objective
A learning episode approach breaks lessons into purposeful segments — each with a specific goal, activity type, and assessment — creating variety, maintaining engagement and building towards the outcome.