March 7, 2018
Microteaching: What is it and How to Pass
Suppose you have decided to further your professional development and gain a recognised qualification by enrolling on the Level 3 Award in Education and Training course. In that case, you’ll know that to complete everything successfully, you must submit some assignments and deliver a microteaching session. But what is a microteaching session, and how can you ensure you pass it?
What is Microteaching?Â
Microteaching is a teacher training technique to demonstrate your skills when working towards a teaching qualification, which studies have shown is an efficient technique for learning effective teaching.
As the word suggests, a microteaching session is simply a 15-minute mini-lesson that you need to plan and teach to demonstrate your teaching skills. An experienced teacher will observe and assess your teaching experience and ensure the relevant criteria are met.Â
Microteaching TopicsÂ
When choosing a topic for your microteaching session, select a topic you like and are comfortable with. You could choose any topic you want, from how to count in Japanese from one to 10 to how to tie your shoelaces. Do you have a hobby? Even better! You could share your passion for your hobby with the students! Be creative. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box.
Planning your SessionÂ
Planning and delivering a lesson is neither easy nor impossible: inexperienced teachers often struggle at the beginning, but you need a clear idea of what you want to teach and get organised. When planning the lesson, your tutor will answer your questions, helping you devise a structured lesson plan with appropriate activities.Â
But remember: if you want to be victorious and pass your microteaching lesson, steer clear of presentations! The most common mistake students make is giving a presentation where class interaction and participation are limited. In our mind, we still tend to picture a lesson like a show where the star is the teacher, the only actor performing on the stage, unconcerned about their audience, who sits comfortably on their velvet chairs enjoying the play.
A lesson is like a play, but in this case, the teacher must demolish “the fourth wall” and directly invite the learners on the stage to perform together. This means asking students questions, letting them discover things independently, and allowing them to participate in various activities.
Observing your Session
Many people don’t like being observed while teaching because they see this as an intrusion: the assessor becomes the nosy person, ready to poke their nose into the lesson and interfere. However, the assessor is just an impartial observer, someone who sits quietly in their chair and takes notes and sometimes wants to be just like any other student in the classroom and have fun in the lesson!
Once you have completed your microteaching session, your assessor will give you constructive feedback about your session, analyse your teaching methods and show you ways to improve your teaching skills.Â
Try not to interrupt or become defensive when receiving feedback; don’t take anything personally.
Tips for your Microteaching SessionÂ
If you want to avoid a sleepless night before your big microteaching day, consider the following:
- Relax and have fun – nobody is there to judge you.
- Plan and deliver inclusive teaching and learning. Include exciting activities in your teaching strategy; you don’t want to bore your students.
- Don’t overthink, and keep it simple!
- Avoid talking all the time and keep your students busy; let them help you with the work!
- You could plan to ask one open question to the class,Â
- Check students’ progress and achievement.
- It’s best to rehearse your session, so practice with friends or family.
- Use your charm and your sense of humour: it will be impossible for students not to participate.
Passing a microteaching lesson is always a triumphant moment, a first step in their teaching career. Delivering your microteaching session in a safe environment with your fellow peers will boost your confidence and help you become a better teacher.
Want to Improve your Teaching Skills?
Are you ready to enhance your teaching skills? Carlton Training offers teacher training and faculty development courses for your staff’s professional development to help boost their confidence and hone their skills.
Contact us now and take the first step towards becoming a better educator.
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