The first step in lesson planning generally involves?

Creating learning objectives serves as the foundational step in lesson planning because it delineates what students are expected to learn by the end of the lesson or series of lessons. Establishing clear, measurable objectives allows instructors to focus their teaching strategies, choose appropriate materials and methods, and assess student progress effectively. By identifying the desired outcomes upfront, instructors can tailor their content and instructional approaches to ensure that they meet those objectives. This clarity helps in structuring the lesson's progression and guides all subsequent planning stages, from selecting teaching materials to organizing student activities around those objectives.