How I Prepare My Schemes of Work with Technology
Blending Tradition and Innovation for Efficient Teaching
Preparing a scheme of work is a foundational task for every teacher—but in today’s digital world, it doesn’t have to be tedious or time-consuming. As an ICT teacher and EduTech facilitator, I’ve found ways to leverage technology to streamline the process, enhance collaboration, and improve the quality of what I deliver in the classroom.
In this post, I’ll walk you through my tech-enhanced workflow for developing schemes of work, along with tools I use and tips for any teacher who wants to make planning more productive.
Step 1: Starting with Curriculum Documents
Like most teachers, I begin with the official syllabus or curriculum guide (in my case, the Lower Secondary Curriculum Framework). These documents are often provided in PDF or Word format.
✅ Tech Tip:
I upload the syllabus to Google Drive for easy access and syncing across devices. I also highlight key learning outcomes using tools like Kami (for PDFs) or simply in Google Docs.
🗂️Step 2: Using a Template (Digital Version)
Instead of writing from scratch each time, I use a digital scheme of work template saved in Google Docs or Microsoft Word. This template includes sections like:
- Week / Lesson number
- Learning outcomes
- Content
- Teaching and learning methods
- Materials/resources
- Assessment tasks
✅ Tech Tip:
I keep this template stored in Google Drive or OneDrive so I can reuse and update it easily. I also use version history to track edits across terms.
💡 Step 3: Researching & Enriching Content
To enrich my content beyond the syllabus, I search online for interactive tools, videos, simulations, and real-world examples.
For example:
- For lessons on Spreadsheets, I embed YouTube tutorials or simulations
- For Computer hardware, I find labeled diagrams and 3D visualizers
✅ Tech Tip:
I use tools like:
- YouTube EDU
- Khan Academy
- TeachWithICT.com
- Google Search with “site:.edu” to find quality educational sources
🔗 Step 4: Linking Resources
In my digital scheme, I insert hyperlinks to lesson materials:
- Google Slides presentations
- YouTube videos
- Student worksheets (Google Docs/PDF)
- Web tools or simulations
This not only helps me stay organized but also allows easy sharing with colleagues or substitute teachers.
✅ Tech Tip:
Store resources in folders on Google Drive and link directly to them in the scheme. Label them clearly by topic and week.
📆 Step 5: Scheduling & Sharing
Once my scheme is ready, I plug key activities into a Google Calendar or Planner. This helps me track deadlines and plan better. For team-teaching or coordination, I also share my scheme with fellow teachers via Google Docs (View/Comment access).
✅ Tech Tip:
Use commenting features to collaborate or reflect on what worked and what needs tweaking each term.
Bonus: Exporting and Printing (When Needed)
Some schools require hard copies, so I usually:
- Export to PDF
- Print with a consistent format and font
- Save a copy with the term name and class (e.g., “ICT_Scheme_S2_Term1_2025.pdf”)
Final Thoughts
Technology doesn’t remove the need for thoughtful planning—it enhances it. By digitizing and organizing my schemes of work, I’ve gained:
- More flexibility
- Easy access anytime, anywhere
- Better collaboration
- Reusable content for future terms
If you’re still doing your entire scheme on paper, try starting with just one digital tool—Google Docs or Microsoft Word in the cloud. You’ll be amazed how much easier and more enjoyable planning becomes.
📂 Download My Free Scheme of Work Template
