Digital lesson log: following syllabus progress class by class

The lesson log says what has been taught, session after session; the syllabus says what was due to be taught. The gap between the two is what the deputy head wants to know before the class council, and what an inspector asks for first. With Sahel EDU, a digital lesson log, the teacher ticks off lessons on a phone, progress is calculated in hours, and the deputy head sees where each class stands without collecting a single notebook.

What a good lesson log contains

The lesson log is the class’s diary: date, length, lesson covered, homework set. Well kept, it lets a replacement teacher carry on without losing a session, and lets the administration check that the syllabus is moving.

Whatever the medium, a few headings are enough.

• The date and time of the session, with the class and the subject.
• The content covered: chapter, lesson, tutorials or practical work.
• The homework to be done, with its due date.
• The teacher’s signature, then the administration’s.
• The next chapter to tackle.

Why syllabus progress escapes the administration

On paper, the notebook stays in the classroom or in the teacher’s bag. The administration only reads it at the end of term, when it is too late to catch up.

• A delay is only seen when the syllabus has to be finished in a few weeks.
• The hours actually taught are counted by hand, class by class.
• A replacement teacher does not know where the teacher had got to.
• The file requested for the inspection is rebuilt at the last minute.

What the teacher records, session after session

At the start of the year, the teacher enters the syllabus for each class and each subject: chapters, lessons, tutorials, practical work, with their length and the planned term. The teacher submits it, then the administration validates it. Once validated, the syllabus is locked: only the administration can correct or reopen it, and every change is logged.

At each session, the teacher ticks the lesson taught and confirms it; the confirmation is final. Teachers see and enter only their own classes.

• Chapters, lessons, tutorials and practical work are entered with their planned length.
• Homework to be set is recorded with its due date.
• Progress is calculated in hours, for the term and for the year.
• Completed chapters show at the bottom of the syllabus.
• Homework is recorded as a reminder: no work is handed in online.

What the deputy head and the management follow

Progress is read class by class, in hours. The dashboard of the head, the deputy head and the academic follow-up staff flags classes that are behind, using four thresholds per class and per term: hours covered, syllabus covered, attendance and success by subject. The syllabus covered is measured against the progress expected on the day.

An overview of the syllabus, with its PDF, serves the inspection, the class council and a replacement teacher, who sees what has been covered and what remains.

Read also: Deputy Head and Vice Principal Software

• A delay turns red or orange before the end of term.
• Lessons taught are counted from the register or from the completed lesson log.
• Teaching departments and their coordinator have their own weekly report.
• The syllabus PDF is handed to the inspection by the school itself.

Limits of a digital lesson log, and where to start

A digital lesson log records the work to be done; it does not receive work handed in. It replaces neither the deputy head’s judgement nor classroom visits.

To get started: enter the timetable, have teachers enter their syllabuses, validate them, then ask everyone to tick off each session.

Read also: Automatic timetable and student distribution

• Without an up-to-date timetable, expected progress has no reference point.
• Progress is only as good as what teachers tick off: regular reminders are needed.
• There is no online homework hand-in and no online lessons.
• A validated syllabus is locked: read it carefully before validating.

Frequently asked questions

Can a teacher change a syllabus after validation?

No. Once validated, the syllabus is locked. Only the administration corrects or reopens it, and every change is logged.

Can students hand in their homework in the application?

No. The lesson log records homework to be done with its due date; it receives no work handed in online.

How do we know a class is behind?

Progress is calculated in hours and compared with expected progress. The management dashboard flags classes that are behind.

Can a replacement teacher take over from a colleague?

Yes. The syllabus overview and its PDF show what has been covered and what remains.

Can we try it before committing?

Yes. The free trial lasts 30 days, with no commitment. The price is then negotiated with each school and can be read on the Pricing page.

See also

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