Lead Student Lesson Plan L01: Introduction Main Purposes Review the purpose of PathwayConnect program Introduce yourself to the other members of the Gathering group Practice how to get to the online course Describe the Lead Student role in gathering Student Preparation Students were asked to prepare for gathering by completing specific activities and/or pondering certain questions. Please refer to the gathering instructions in this week s unit or lesson in the course. Students were also encouraged to bring with them to the gathering a device they could use to log in to I-Learn. This could be a smartphone, tablet, or laptop. It is not essential that every student have a device for this lesson however. Lesson Outline IF POSSIBLE, A FORMER PATHWAY STUDENT SHOULD BE ASKED TO ACT AS LEAD STUDENT FOR THE INTRODUCTION LESSON. VERY IMPORTANT! This is the most important gathering of the semester. You will likely have students in this gathering that are still considering whether or not to pursue their PathwayConnect journey. This gathering should be considered an opportunity to help bolster students enthusiasm for and commitment to PathwayConnect. Additionally, many students are quite apprehensive about using technology and finding success in their online course. For these reasons, it is imperative that you carefully follow the lesson outline below, including the time allotments. Doing so will ensure that you include important information that could make all the difference for those who might be still wondering if PathwayConnect is right for them.
OPENING Announcements, Hymn, and Prayer (5 minutes) CLASS ACTIVITIES Program Review (10 minutes) LED BY MISSIONARIES Announcements Opening Hymn: Chosen by missionaries, please sing only one or two verses due to time constraints. Opening Prayer: By Invitation LED BY LEAD STUDENT This critically important activity will help students review the mission of PathwayConnect. It is possible that there will be many students in your gathering who still don t understand this mission. Establishing this information early in the gathering will help the rest of the activities have much more relevance and purpose. Because this is so important, please follow the instructions in this activity very closely. Read the quotes verbatim. Read (30 seconds): Before we begin today, it is important to review the purpose of PathwayConnect. PathwayConnect is a one-year education program designed to help you be confident in school and work while developing skills that will help you attain your goals. When you successfully finish PathwayConnect, you will be able to continue taking BYU-I courses while still paying the low PathwayConnect tuition rate. PathwayConnect was created to help you begin or continue your higher-education journey. Review (7 minutes) Take a few minutes to review these important points and answer questions as necessary. To prepare to teach this section, review the PathwayConnect section linked on the home page of the BYU Pathway Worldwide website. For questions you can t quickly answer, instruct students to go to the PathwayConnect Support page at pathway.lds.org/help after the gathering. PathwayConnect is a low-cost education program that helps people start or return to college. Over the span of one year (three semesters), students complete coursework online and also gather once a week with other local PathwayConnect students. Course credits earned during PathwayConnect may later be applied toward a BYU-Idaho online certificate or degree. PathwayConnect is flexible with your schedule. PathwayConnect gives you a quality education within the framework of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Read (30 seconds): President Uchtdorf has taught, For members of the Church, education is not merely a good idea--it's a commandment. We have a responsibility to acquire education because it will help provide for the financial security of our families. In today's society, education is the gateway to opportunity and financial security. Education also enables us to serve in the Church. President Eyring stated the following: Why worry about education? Because learning is how we prepare to serve both now and in eternity. " Testimony (1-2 minutes): Bear a brief testimony of how PathwayConnect has helped you in your life.
Student Introductions (20 minutes) Whole Class Pathway gathering groups are a lot like a family. Group members will quickly bond together, and the first gathering is a great opportunity to become acquainted. Ask students to take about 30 seconds to briefly introduce themselves to the rest of the group, using the questions below to help guide their discussion. It may be helpful to write the questions down so that all students can see them. What is your name? What is something that is unique about you? What brought you to PathwayConnect? Once students have all introduced themselves, take a brief moment to again welcome everyone and assure them that they are in a place where they are accepted, supported, and loved. The gathering should be a place that nurtures students, challenges them to stretch, and celebrates their progress. Repeat your feeling that those in the room can grow together as a PathwayConnect family over the next semester. I-Learn Log-in practice and navigation (20 minutes) The next activity is VERY important, and you must not skip it, even if you believe all students have successfully logged-in to I-Learn and know how to get around in the course. Chances are, more than one student in your gathering will benefit greatly from this activity, and this will make all the difference in their PathwayConnect experience. Whole Class Logging in (6 minutes) It is important that every student understand how to log in to I-Learn and find things there. Make copies of the handout titled Logging in to I-Learn and Getting Around a Quick Start Guide, which is included below, and hand it to each student. If this is not possible, please draw the images on that handout on the board. If that is too difficult, at least write the following website on the board: byupathway.lds.org. Briefly review the log-in procedure as a class using the section titled Logging In on the handout. Small Groups Logging in Practice (7 minutes) In groups of 4-5 people, have each student practice logging in to I-Learn using the section titled Logging In on the handout. Students were asked to bring a device to the gathering for this purpose. Students should help each other if necessary. If a student is unable to log in, please take note and try to resolve the issue after the gathering. Whole Class Navigation (6 minutes) Review the section called Getting Around on the handout. The easiest way to remember how I-Learn is organized, and how to take an online class is to click Content and read what you see from top to bottom. This general rule will help students learn how the course is organized, and it will help them learn how to get around it and see due dates. Whole Class Reminder to Take I-Learn Tutorial (1 minute) If they have not already, students should take the I-Learn Tutorial at home. Links to the tutorial are available in the new student checklist they received via email, on the
I-Learn home page, on their course home page, and in the Welcome module of GS 120. Please strongly encourage everyone to complete the I-Learn Tutorial by the end of this week. Lead Students and Observing Students (5 minutes) CLOSING Prayer Whole Class Explain the Lead Student role. The opportunity to be a Lead Student is a leadership experience that helps an individual develop important life skills. Students will find that this experience will help them be more effective as they serve in their homes, in the Church, in the community, in the workplace, and in many other ways. The Lead Student facilitates the Thursday Gathering meeting. The role of a Lead Student is to lead discussions and activities during the Gathering. The Observing Student will become the Lead Student the following week. The Observing Student uses the Observation and Feedback Sheet, located in the Lead Student Tools folder, to record feedback regarding the Lead Student s lesson. By observing the Gathering facilitation the week prior to their own Lead Student experience, the Observing Student will be better prepared to fulfill the Lead Student role the following week. Pass the Lead Student Signup Sheet around the class. Because the first Lead Student will not have the opportunity to be an Observing Student, they might find it helpful to review the Observation and Feedback Sheet in preparation for his/her Lead Student assignment. LED BY MISSIONARIES Closing Prayer: By Invitation Remember: You need to be able to contact each other and stay organized. Use the method that works best for your gathering group (texts, email, Facebook, etc.). Note Please download and print a copy of these instructions to use as a reference during Thursday's Pathway Gathering. See the next page for the handout titled Logging in to I-Learn and Getting Around a Quick Start Guide. Give one to every student.
Logging in to I-Learn and Getting Around a Quick Start Guide Logging in On byupathway.lds.org, log in with your LDS account. Now, you are in your student portal. Click, "Go to Class" Now, you are on the I-Learn home page. Click on GS 120 to enter your course. Getting Around Need more help? Go to pathway.lds.org/help