A Change of Plan

Twice this week, I’ve abandoned my lesson plan halfway through.

Whether it’s the return after half-term or the November blues, I could tell both students had hit cognitive overload.

Adjusting the pace of a lesson is something experienced teachers and tutors do instinctively. We read tone, posture, hesitation etcetera.

Whatever the capabilities of a chatbot, deciding 'in the moment' to let go of a carefully prepared plan, and knowing the particular student well enough to know what will work instead, takes both empathy and professional judgement.

That, for now at least, is still very much the domain of human tutoring and teaching.