You need to create a digital lesson plan. What software should you use?

1 Why use software?

Software can offer many benefits for creating a digital lesson plan. It can help you organize your lesson structure, add multimedia elements, create interactive features, and share your lesson with your students or colleagues. Software can also help you save time, reuse and adapt your materials, and track and analyze your students' progress and feedback. Depending on the software you choose, you can create a digital lesson plan that is flexible, accessible, and collaborative.

3 What are the options?

When creating a digital lesson plan, there are a variety of software options to choose from. Presentation software, such as PowerPoint, Google Slides, and Prezi, provide slides with text, images, audio, video, and animations. Although they are easy to use and widely available, they can be boring and linear if not used creatively. Authoring software like Articulate Storyline, Adobe Captivate, and Lectora allow for interactive and multimedia courses with quizzes, games, simulations, and scenarios; although they are powerful and engaging they can be complex and expensive. Lastly, learning management systems such as Moodle, Canvas, and Blackboard provide comprehensive tools for creating, managing, and delivering online courses; however they can be overwhelming and dependent on internet access.

4 How to choose?

Choosing a software for creating a digital lesson plan is not an easy task. To select the right one for you and your students, you need to compare different software options to assess their functionality and usability. Think about your objectives and outcomes, and how the software can help you achieve them using frameworks such as ADDIE or SAMR. Moreover, consider your students' learning styles and preferences, and how the software can cater to them using models such as VARK or MI. Finally, don't forget to seek feedback from your students, colleagues, or experts, and use it to improve your lesson with tools such as SurveyMonkey, Google Forms, or Kahoot.

5 How to use?

When creating a digital lesson plan, it is important to use the software effectively and efficiently. Start by planning the lesson logically and aligning it with the curriculum and standards. Take advantage of the software features and tools, but avoid overloading or distracting your students with too much information or media. Engage your students actively and interactively, providing them with opportunities to practice, apply, and reflect on their learning. Monitor their progress and performance, offering timely and constructive feedback. By selecting the right software and using it wisely, you can design and deliver a lesson that is meaningful, relevant, and effective.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?