By program usually refers to a series of courses that help achieve specific academic or business goals. A school curriculum often consists of general learning objectives and a list of courses and resources. Some school programs are more like lesson plans, containing detailed information on how to teach a course, complete with discussion questions and specific activities for students. Here are some strategies on how to develop a program.
Steps
Step 1. Define your program goals
The goal could be to prepare adults for the baccalaureate exam. In a university program, the main focus may be on providing the skills and knowledge needed to achieve the degree. Being specific about the goals of a school program will help you develop it.
Step 2. Choose an appropriate title
Depending on your learning goals, giving the program some orientation could be a straightforward process or one that requires a lot of effort. A school program for students preparing for baccalaureate might be called a "Baccalaureate Preparation Study Program". A program designed to help teens with eating disorders may need a well thought-out title that appeals to teens and is sensitive to their needs.
Step 3. Create a scope and order
This outlines the basic skills and information students need to have to achieve the main program goals. For a master's degree program, the scope and order might be a list of courses that students must complete. For a program for a software course this could be a detailed list of software operations, such as creating new documents, saving information, deleting documents and merging files.
Step 4. Determine the educational approach
Depending on the topic and goal, the information could be more easily conveyed in the form of a lecture. In other cases, it may be more appropriate to provide written material, schedule discussion sessions, or give the opportunity to practice. The national or regional program, the teachers available and the opportunities available must also be considered.
- Include discussion questions. In the program that serves more as a guideline for teachers, detailed discussion questions provide further guidance. In a human rights program, for example, students could be asked to share their views on what constitutes a fundamental right of humanity.
- Allow space to be flexible to meet student needs. Program development should prioritize students' needs. Sometimes the needs are not evident until the teacher has worked with a group of students for a certain period of time. In some cases, it is better to give general guidance and let the teachers enter further details and modify the schedule as needed.
Step 5. Include an evaluation component
Determining how to evaluate students' learning depends on the main objectives of the program. If students are preparing for a standardized exam, inserting practice exams is a great way to prepare students for the test while identifying their learning weaknesses. If the learning objective is the deepening or development of a vital skill, an assessment can be much more informal, made up of class discussions, essays or face to face discussions.
Step 6. Establish a program evaluation system
When preparing students for an exam, it may be helpful to gauge the overall effectiveness of the program by collecting statistics on who passes the exam. In more subjective subjects, such as art or personal development, observe the participation and presence of students. A focus on student empowerment and participation could also be helpful in revealing the effectiveness of a program.
