Your Students Won’t Forget You or the Episode
By Bruce J. Stewart
The Television Writers’ Secrets to Lesson Planning
Have you studied the techniques and formula that writers for television use to capture the viewer’s attention? And, to hold their attention for a 30 minute sitcom or for a 60 minute drama? You can use these same techniques to capture the attention of your students.
Here’s a Quick, Five Step Lesson Planning Process
Step 1.
You must start the show immediately. Have you noticed how more and more television shows move right into the action precisely at the beginning of the hour? There is no time wasted. Moving right into the action commands your attention.
Do the same thing with your lesson. Make the second you address your class of students memorable. Some educational books call this an anticipatory set. Whatever term you want to use, make the first moment of class memorable; and the last moment of class must be memorable as well. But we will talk about that later in Step 5.
Step 2.
Study your favorite television drama. For example, NCIS has been one of the most popular shows for the past decade, due in part to the director, producers, and writers consistently sticking to the NCIS formula. Of course the acting is good, the scripts are well written, and the viewer knows that they will be rewarded for investing 60 minutes of their time to watch the show. “Whodunits” have a strict formula, and they always begin each episode with the “big” question – Whodunit? Of course, other genres have their own formulas.
Your students will invest their time in your lesson if they know they too will be rewarded. Try using a big question to begin the class. Some of my colleagues call this the “killer” question. Use a question (or introduce an idea/concept) that will keep the students focused on the objective of the lesson.
Step 3.
The formula the writers use is to leave you “hanging” in some way. Television shows are written in segments of time to allow for commercial interruptions. Each segment is designed to keep the viewer glued to the same station. Something in the plot line will be revealed following the commercial break.
Young adults are restless. Their attention span is minimal. They tend to daydream, a lot. Your lesson planning can use the same strategy. Try using small segments of time followed by a transition to keep your students active. Each new segment must move your lesson closer to meeting the objective.
Step 4.
The “Aha” Moment, or “I knew it all along.” The moment of sudden realization, inspiration, insight, recognition, or comprehension. We have all experienced this while watching our favorite shows or movies.
As a teacher, this is even more rewarding when your students experience the Aha Moment because you have facilitated it. This is the moment in class when the question, “Do they get it?”, or “How well do they get it?” is answered. Hopefully, the answer is “Wow! They really got it.”
How will you plan for the Aha Moment?
Step 5.
The Epilogue or “Tie the Bow.” The great writers will always give the viewer something extra during the final minute of the broadcast. The next time you watch a television drama, study the final scene to see if the writers referred back to the opening scene in some big or small way. The movie, Rudy, did this brilliantly. I won’t reveal the little touch used by the writers and director for this movie, but it is memorable. This technique is called Tying the Bow.
For those of you old enough to remember The Fugitive with David Janssen, each episode concluded with a memorable epilogue. The viewers kept coming back week after week. Its formula worked to perfection.
How can you Tie the Bow at the conclusion of your lesson? How can you give your students a “little extra?” Reward them and you too will be rewarded.
A final suggestion, try naming each lesson – for example, Season 1, Episode 1, All Are Welcome is a great start. Your students won’t forget you or the episode.