Creating a Lesson or Unit Plan

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To create a Lesson or Unit plan, access the builder from the Lessons, Units, and Rubrics tab on the top menu bar of your Taskstream account.

The Navigation bar showing Taskstream with Folios & Web Pages and an arrow pointing toward the Lessons, Units & Rubrics option.

Click to go into the Lesson Builder or the Unit Builder.

Note: A unit is a sequence of lessons, so they are related.

The Page showing tiles for Lesson Builder and Unit Builder, each with a description and links to go to the respective builder.

To Create a New Lesson Plan

  1. Click the Create New button at the top of the screen.

    The Lesson Builder page showing filters for folder/status and title search, with an arrow pointing at the Create New button.

  2. Enter a title for your lesson/unit (maximum of 100 characters)- you can always rename it later by clicking the Rename button on the main Lesson Builder page.
  3. From the pull-down menu, choose a format. If your school has created a custom format for you to use, you can find it here. Otherwise, select one of the default options.
  4. Click Create.
  5. To add content for an element of the lesson, click the button for that element. A pop-up window will appear for you to add your content. After you enter content, click Save & Close Window.
    Different fields provide different ways for you to add information. Some pop-up windows have checkboxes to select, others contain text entry fields where you can type, as well as tabs to add file attachments and web links.
    If nothing happens when you click a button to enter content, check this article for help: Enabling Pop-up Windows in Taskstream

Attaching a file

Not all lesson plan sections allow file attachments. Typically files are added to sections like Summary, Procedure/ Steps, and Instructional Materials.

  1. To attach a file, click the button for the appropriate section of the lesson plan.
  2. In the pop-up window, click the Attachments tab.

    The Instructional Materials page showing a text editor on the left and navigation tabs above, with an arrow pointing at the Attachments tab.

  3. Click Add Files to locate your file on your computer.
  4. (Optional) To select multiple files, hold down the CTRL button as you select each file.
  5. After you have selected your file(s), click Open.
  6. Back in the attachments window, click the Start Upload button. Once the upload is complete, close the window

Adding Web Links

The Web Links area allows you to attach links to other websites to your lesson.

  1. To attach add a web link, click the button for the appropriate section of the lesson plan.
  2. In the pop-up window, click the Web Links tab.
  3. Name your link.
  4. Paste the URL (web address) for the website you'd like to link to.
  5. (Optional) Enter a file description.
  6. Click Add Link.

Note: You can also add a hyperlink in a text field by highlighting text and clicking Insert> Link

The Objective page showing the text editor open with the Insert menu expanded, and an arrow pointing at the Link option.

Adding Rubrics

The Assessment/Rubrics area allows you to attach a rubric created in the Rubric Wizard. Rubrics are generally added sections titled Assessment.

  1. Click the Assessment/ Rubrics section. If there is no Assessment/ Rubrics section, then you may wish to attach your rubric to another section that makes sense for your lesson plan.
  2. Click the Rubrics tab and check the box next to the the rubric(s) you'd like to add.
  3. Click Save & Close Window.

Adding Standards

  1. To open the Standards Wizard, click the Standards button from your lesson plan.
  2. To browse or select standards, use the pull-down menu or links provided.
  3. Click Go.

    The Select from State, National, or Local Standards page showing the Browse by Name section with a dropdown labeled ‘NY‑ City College School of Education Conceptual Framework,’ with an arrow pointing at the dropdown.

  4. Proceed to the lowest level of your chosen standards set and select the checkboxes next to desired choices.
  5. Then click Save and Return to Lesson.

Once you have completed your Lesson/Unit plan, you can print it or share your work.

Requesting Comments/ Feedback

To Submit your Lesson or Unit for evaluation in a DRF program, click the article below for directions:
Submitting an Artifact Created in Taskstream (Lesson Plan, Web folio, Rubric, etc.)

Note: If your Lesson Plan has been submitted for evaluation in a DRF program, it will become "locked" from editing. To edit a "locked" lesson plan, from the main Lesson Builder page, click Copy to make an exact copy. The title will need to be amended slightly (add "Version 2" or "Updated" to the title). Once you make your edits, you can re-submit your edited version in your program.

If you are enrolled in a program with Reviewers, you can share your lesson with your Reviewer for feedback. See this article for more information on submitting for Review: How to request and view comments from a Reviewer

  1. At the top or bottom of your lesson, click Request Comments.

    The section showing buttons labeled Copy, Rename, and Request Comments, with an arrow pointing at the Request Comments button.

  2. Click to select the names of the Reviewer(s) you'd like to share your lesson with.
  3. Click Submit for Review. A pop-up window confirms your request.

    The Select Reviewer page showing reviewer options with a checkbox list, with an arrow pointing at the reviewer selection and a Submit for Review button shown on the right.

Emailing a Lesson/Unit Plan

  1. At the top or bottom of your lesson, click Email.

    The Lesson Builder page showing action buttons under the lesson details, with the Email button highlighted.

  2. To select the person who is to receive your lesson (via the Message Center):
    1. Click Select Recipients OR
    2. In the Enter external recipients field, type the email address.(Optional) If you send a lesson through the Message Center and want to allow the recipient to copy the lesson into their own Lesson Builder, select Allow Taskstream recipients to copy this lesson for editing.

    The Email section showing areas for selecting internal recipients, entering external recipients, and an option to allow Taskstream recipients to copy the lesson for editing.

  3. (Optional) You can include a personal message with your lesson.
  4. To send your lesson, click Send Message.

Print / Export to PDF

  1. To view a printable version of your lesson plan, at the top of your lesson, click Print/Export.

    The Lesson Builder page showing action buttons under the lesson details, with the Print/Export button highlighted.

    1. From the print view window, click CTRL-P or click on the Print icon in your browser.
    2. To create a PDF that may be printed or saved to your computer, click Export to PDF from the print view window on the top right.

Adding Lesson Plans to a Unit Plan

  1. Go to the Unit Builder from Lesson, Units, & Rubrics on the top navigation bar.

    The Page showing Lesson Builder and Unit Builder tiles, with their descriptions and an arrow pointing at the Go to the Unit Builder link.

  2. Create a new Unit Plan by adding a title, selecting a format, and clicking Create.

  3. In your Unit Plan, click Learning Activities.

    The Implementation section showing buttons for Learning Activities and Resources and Unit Handouts, with an arrow pointing at the Learning Activities button.

  4. Click Add New Learning Activity (top or bottom button).

    The section showing the option to add learning activities at top and bottom, with an arrow pointing at the Add New Learning Activity button.

  5. You'll have the option to create a new lesson plan, which will take you back into the Lesson Builder or you can select an existing Lesson Plan from the drop down menu and click Add to Unit.

    The section showing the ‘Create a new activity or lesson’ section with an arrow pointing at the section title, followed by the option to add an existing lesson with arrows pointing at the ‘Select a Lesson’ dropdown and the Add to Unit button.

  6. You can continue adding lesson plans to your Unit by clicking Add New Learning Activity. Click Accept and Return to Unit when you have finished adding lesson plans to your Unit Plan.

    The section showing a lesson listed with its order selector and an Accept and Return to Unit button above and below the list.

If you need to submit your Unit Plan for Evaluation in a DRF program, see: Attaching and Submitting an Artifact Created in Taskstream: Lesson Plans, Web folios, Rubrics

To request comments/ feedback from a Reviewer, see: Requesting Comments/ Feedback

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