Microteaching (part 1)

Summary

Microteaching is a specialized training course aimed at future teachers to develop their teaching skills in a small-scale, controlled environment. It focuses on specific teaching techniques, providing aspiring educators with the tools to become professional and effective in the classroom. With limited class sizes (5-10 students) and short, focused lessons, future teachers practice one teaching skill at a time while receiving feedback from peers and supervisors. This method enhances teachers' ability to deliver lessons efficiently and effectively, fostering deeper understanding and skill development for real-world teaching scenarios.

Takeaways

• 😀 Microteaching is a course designed for prospective teachers to help them develop professional teaching skills.
• 😀 The course usually carries 2 to 3 credit points (SKS), which is a standard measure of workload in educational systems.
• 😀 The term 'microteaching' is derived from the words 'micro' meaning small and 'teaching' meaning to teach, referring to small-scale, focused teaching activities.
• 😀 Microteaching provides opportunities for prospective teachers to practice and improve specific teaching skills in a controlled environment.
• 😀 According to McKnight (1971), microteaching is a learning design to develop a teacher's ability to teach effectively.
• 😀 McLain, Land, and Moulton (1995) define microteaching as a method to demonstrate and teach the phases of the learning process in a simple and understandable manner.
• 😀 Key components of microteaching include basic teaching skills, administrative aspects like micro lesson plans (RPP), and how to evaluate teaching effectiveness.
• 😀 The main goals of microteaching are to equip future teachers with essential teaching skills, help them act professionally, and create effective, productive, and efficient learning environments.
• 😀 Microteaching involves practicing in small-scale settings, such as having 5-10 students, with a lesson duration of 10-15 minutes and a focus on one specific skill.
• 😀 Characteristics of microteaching include a limited number of students, a specific teaching skill being demonstrated, and the presence of observers and supervisors to assess the performance.

Q & A

What is microteaching?

Microteaching is a method used to teach and practice teaching skills on a small scale, with limited scope, such as teaching a small group of students in a controlled setting. It helps teacher candidates learn specific teaching skills and techniques.

Why is microteaching important for teacher candidates?

Microteaching helps teacher candidates develop essential teaching skills, practice teaching techniques, and gain confidence before they begin teaching in real classrooms. It prepares them for professional teaching by offering a practical, structured training experience.

What is the typical credit load (SKS) for a microteaching course?

The typical credit load (SKS) for a microteaching course is usually 2 to 3 SKS, which refers to the number of academic credits assigned to the course.

What is the meaning of the term 'micro' in microteaching?

In the context of microteaching, 'micro' refers to something small, limited, or narrow. It signifies that the teaching process is conducted on a small scale, focusing on specific skills and limited content.

How is microteaching different from regular teaching?

Microteaching is different from regular teaching in that it focuses on teaching a small group of students, usually 5 to 10 students, with a limited amount of time (typically 10 to 15 minutes) and specific teaching skills. It is a focused, practical training exercise rather than a full-scale classroom teaching experience.

Who defines microteaching, and what is their perspective?

McKnight (1971) defines microteaching as a learning design aimed at developing an individual's teaching ability. McLain, Land, and Moulton (1995) describe it as a method for demonstrating a step-by-step learning design with simple and easy-to-understand learning situations.

What are the key components of microteaching?

Key components of microteaching include understanding basic teaching concepts, preparing lesson plans (RPP), practicing basic teaching skills (such as speaking and managing the class), and evaluating teaching performance through observations and feedback.

What are the goals of microteaching?

The goals of microteaching are to equip teacher candidates with fundamental teaching skills, to train them to act professionally in their future careers, to foster an effective and productive learning environment, and to enhance teaching skills through observation and evaluation.

What are the characteristics of microteaching?

Microteaching characteristics include a limited number of students (5-10), a short teaching time (10-15 minutes), focusing on one specific teaching skill, and the presence of observers (peers and supervisors) who provide feedback. The topic taught is also limited and specific.

What is the role of the observer in microteaching?

The observer in microteaching is responsible for evaluating the teacher's performance. They provide feedback and insights, helping the teacher candidate improve their teaching methods and skills. Observers can be fellow students or instructors.