HERBARTIAN LESSON PLAN MODEL
Date……………..
Class……………………
Period……………………
Subject…………………………
Topic…………………………..
1.General Objectives
These objectives are formulated by the teacher in his subject keeping in view the entering
behaviors of the learners. For example: 1. to develop the knowledge of grammar among the
students.
2.Specific Objective
These objectives are formulated on the basis of general objectives and considering the
nature of the topic and level of students. These are specified in terms of knowledge, skill or
appreciation. These objectives are written in behavioral terms. For Example:(i) Students will
be able to recall the definition of noun. (ii) Students will be able to enumerate the examples
of noun.
3.Introduction.
Here, the teacher employs his insight and experiences for liking new knowledge with the
previous knowledge of the students. The topic is not introduced directly but it is usually
emitted by the students’ responses by asking introductory questions.
4.Teaching Aids
Audio-visual aids are selected according to the proposed topic.
5.Previous knowledge
Students’ previous knowledge is mentioned. For example: Students are familiar with figure
of speech. They know that nouns are naming words.
6.Statement of Aim
The teacher gives his statement of teaching topic by incorporating the students’ responses.
For Example: “Today, we will study about the noun and its kinds.”
7.Presentation
The teacher prepares the developing questions after introducing the topic. The question
are arranged in logical sequence, i.e., from simple to complex, considering the structure of
the topic.
8.Explanation
The teacher is supposed to explain the answers of the given developing question. As whole
of the content-matter is in the question-answer form.
9. Black board Summary
The teacher has to prepare the black-board summary of his teaching point and explanations.
10.Review Questions
The purpose of these questions is to practice the students’ learning and to evaluate their
performance whether they have comprehended the teaching unit or not. These review
questions are asked only after rubbing the black-board summary. For example:
Q.1.What is the definition of Noun?
Q.2. Give some examples of Noun…..
11.Home assignments
At the end of the lesson plan, home assignment is given to the students on the same
teaching unit. The purpose of home work is to practice, to organize and to study the topic
for better understanding and retention.
Advantages
1.Organized Teaching
Each step has been organized in a logical order which provides an opportunity to the fresh
teacher to become aware of future mistakes. Originality is never affected and the teaching
goes on in a very organized way.
2.Acquiring thoughts as apperception.
Herbart believed that when the new thought related to the thoughts lying in unconscious
mind of the pupils are presented, the thoughts of unconscious mind come to the conscious
mind, establish relationship with the new thought and again go to the unconscious mind.
Herbart termed this material process of acquiring thoughts as apperception.
3.Use of Inductive and Deductive Methods
While presenting the new knowledge, help of various examples is sought through
generalization and rules are derived. It is an inductive method. In the step application, thesrules are to be executed, this is a deductive method. Thus, both indicative and deductive
methods are used in this five steps approach.
4. Recapitulation
Such question is asked while recapitulating which, on answering, result in the learning and
application of the acquired knowledge in new situations.
5. Correlation Possible
Herbart considered entire knowledge as a single unit. The knowledge of the pupils is
acquired in a single unit. This allows to establishing a correlation between previous and new
knowledge and between all subjects of the curriculum.
Disadvantages
1.Mechanical Method of Teaching
The use of these steps takes away the freedom of the teacher as he cannot incorporate his
independent thought in any step. This reduces his originality. Hence, Herbartian approach is
a mechanical method of teaching.
2.No Place for Individual Differences
While using Herbartian approach. Similar questions are asked to the entire. This overlooks
individual differences.
3.Useful in Knowledge Lesson only
Herbartian approach is useful in the knowledge lesson only, not in appreciation and skill
lessons.
4.Teacher More Active
In Herbartian approach, the teacher has to be more active. It is more desirable if the pupils
remain more active than the teachers. As this teaching method is not activity-centered,
pupils don’t get any motivation for learning.
5.No need of Generalization
Generalization is not needed while teaching language, geography, history, music and arts
etc. Thus, all the five steps are not needed while teaching.
6.Uninteresting
This approach stresses upon the teaching of all the subjects of curriculum in a similar
sequence overlooking the interests, attitudes, abilities, and capacities of the pupils
according to their mental development. The entire teaching becomes monotonous. The