The first step in the instructor's creation of a lesson plan is to:

Identifying the expected learning outcomes is a crucial first step in the process of creating a lesson plan for several reasons. This step establishes a clear direction for both the instructor and the students, ensuring that everyone involved understands what knowledge, skills, or competencies the lesson aims to impart. By defining these outcomes upfront, the instructor can then structure the rest of the lesson plan — including instructional strategies, assessment methods, and necessary resources — to align with these goals.

Clear learning outcomes also aid in evaluation, as they provide a framework against which both student performance and lesson effectiveness can be measured. Instructors can later refer back to these outcomes to assess whether the objectives were met and to make necessary adjustments for future lesson planning.

The other options involve important components of lesson planning, but they are typically built upon the foundation set by the expected learning outcomes. For instance, designing assessment criteria and gathering teaching resources should base themselves on the learning outcomes, and summarizing the lesson comes at a point when the core objectives have already been established. Thus, beginning with the identification of expected learning outcomes ensures a coherent and structured approach to the entire lesson planning process.