Taking the Micro-Teach Online
The world of learning has undergone significant changes to say the least during the past year. We are very fortunate here at Brooks and Kirk that our courses have always been blended. What this means, is that the majority of learning is carried out online, with some elements being face-to-face.
The Level 3 Award in Education and Training has always been a blended-learning course, delivered using a virtual learning environment (Moodle). There is one element that is always usually delivered face-to-face though, the micro-teach. This unit is called Understanding and Using Inclusive Teaching and Learning Approaches in Education and Training. You are required to deliver a 15-minute micro-teach on the subject of your choice.
Under normal circumstances, you would attend one day at our centre in Boston, Lincolnshire where you would deliver the micro-teach in-person to a small group of 4-6 people. Of course COVID has meant that this element has had to be delivered online via Zoom or Skype, which is not an easy task.
Times Have Changed
We have always very much been against the idea of carrying out the micro-teach virtually. We believe it’s harder to gain the necessary teaching skills without active participation from others within the classroom. However, like with many businesses, we have adapted during the pandemic and rather than carrying out these sessions in a classroom environment, these have been virtual instead.
Whether your micro-teach is going to be carried out face-to-face or virtually, here are some tips to help you make it a success:
Preparation is key
By spending the time putting together a lesson plan your micro-teach will run a lot more smoothly. You have 15 minutes to deliver the session. so first of all think about what you want your learners to achieve within this time. Then build your plan around this – you will need a clear aim, 1-2 objectives, an introduction, middle section and summary. Also plan in some time for questions from your audience too.
Make elements of it interactive
Keeping your learners engaged is slightly easier in a classroom setting. But, that isn’t to say you can’t still make it fun over Zoom. Consider adding in quizzes, videos and polls to make sure that your learners are paying attention to what you are teaching.
Keep an eye on the clock
You only have a limited time frame to deliver your chosen subject. So, get to the point as soon as you can! One thing to bear in mind is that you are an expert in your field, and your learners may well not be. If you need to spend some extra time explaining a particular topic, try not to stress out and let it derail you. It is much better that they leave the micro-teach with a full understanding of the topic, rather than you rushing through it all in 15 minutes.
Stay in control
Your micro-teach should have a natural flow to it, and not be too regimented. You are the one who dictates the timings though, so don’t let your learners take advantage too much. If you need to move the lesson on, don’t be afraid to. We all get flustered at some point throughout delivering a presentation, but again it is important that you stay in control. If a question from a learner stumps you, turn it around and ask the learners their thoughts instead.
Practice, practice, practice
Just like with anything, the more you practice your micro-teach, the better it will go on the day (hopefully!). Be mindful that both you and your learners are using modern technology, which doesn’t always perform as expected when you want it to. In advance of the micro-teach, make sure your learners have access to all the equipment and resources they need. Make sure that you are familiar with things like screen-sharing so you can use your presentation on the day.
Advantages Of Going Online
One of the great things about carrying out the micro-teach online is that you don’t have to worry about travelling on the day. Without the stress of having to plan out your journey; finding the venue on the day; getting the classroom set up; you will save an awful lot of time and pressure. All you have to do is plug in your computer, connect to the internet and away you go. No stress, no drama.
If you would like more information about the Level 3 AET and how we are supporting our learners remotely, please give us a call on 01205 805155.
