Top Tips for a Successful Micro-Teach

If you are studying the Level 3 Award in Education and Training you will have seen that one of the core modules is the micro-teach. It is therefore very important that you understand what it entails.

Most learners love the prospect of delivering their individual subject within a 15-minute window. However, for those who don’t enjoy presenting in front of a group, it can be rather daunting. The micro-teach is an opportunity to showcase your skills and knowledge on a subject of your choice.

Here are some of our top pointers on how to prepare for the micro-teach:

Planning Your AET Micro-Teach Session

Setting Objectives

Begin with clear goals. What do you want your learners to take away? Each objective should align with Level 3 Award in Education and Training standards.

Choosing the Right Topic for your Micro-Teach

Take your time when picking a topic for your micro-teach. 15 Minutes is not very long so keep your subject simple. Try to think of an idea that does not involve grasping a difficult concept. Most students doing the AET course find it better to pick one item in a topic rather than the whole topic. For example, rather than do a micro-teach about types of knots it would be better to concentrate on the three most common types.

If you are stuck for ideas download our list of Brooks and Kirk 100 Micro-Teach Ideas for you to consider.

Preparing AET-Focused Materials

Gather resources that support your teaching. Think about visual aids, handouts, and digital tools. Make them relevant and engaging.

Lesson Planning for Your Micro-Teach

You should have a clear idea of what you would like your learners to achieve during this 15-minute session. Take the time to draft a lesson plan that is a maximum of 2 pages long. Structure your lesson so you have an introduction, middle section, activities and a summary. It is also a good idea to plan some time in for questions that your learners may have too. If they ask questions as you go along you are more likely to lose concentration.

Craft a lesson plan that’s structured yet flexible. It should cover key points while allowing for student interaction. Using a template like the one used in the video below will help you with this or you could purchase our Micro Teach Lesson Plan Template + 20-page Exclusive Guide to Creating an Engaging Micro Teach Lesson Plan. For full details please see the bottom of the page.

Executing a Successful AET Micro-Teach Session

Step-by-Step Execution

Start strong. Engage your audience from the get-go. Use a mix of teaching methods to cater to different learning styles.

Classroom Management

Keep control of your session. Manage time effectively and maintain a positive learning environment. It is also good practice to have a short 4-5 slide PowerPoint presentation to support your micro-teach. By including short bullet points on each slide you can make sure you are sticking to the general structure of the lesson plan.

Engaging Techniques for AET Learners

The most important thing about the micro-teach is to make it engaging for your learners. Think about how you are going to capture their attention and make them contribute to the session. Use questions, group discussions, and practical activities. Keep your learners active and involved. Have you got any fun videos that you can use within your micro-teach, or is there anything you can add in order to make your learners interact? A quiz is always a great way to test whether people have actually been listening or not!

Time Management

Stick to your schedule. A balance between covering all your material and allowing for discussion is essential.

Keep It Simple

Remember you are giving a micro-teach within your expert field. Your learners may have no prior knowledge of this subject area, so keep it nice and simple. Don’t use technical language that may confuse your learners.

Teaching Techniques for Your Micro-Teach

Questions Are Important

Being a good teacher or trainer requires you to be able to ask engaging questions. Try to include open-ended questions that require your learners to think outside the box. The micro-teach is a great opportunity to show your questioning skills. Question time also gives you a break from the flow of teaching, and takes the pressure off you for a little while!

Practice Is Key

Most of us hate giving presentations, but the only way we improve is by practicing over and over. Take the time to present your micro-teach to your family or friends, and get their feedback. Even better, practice on someone who has no understanding of your subject area at all. That way you can judge whether you are speaking too technically.

Keep Calm

We have all been in that situation where mid-presentation we lose our train of thought and become flustered. We want the ground to swallow us up there and then! If you find yourself in this situation, try your best to keep calm and stop for a second. Gather your thoughts, and resume with your micro-teach. If you are really struggling, pop in a question for your learners to give you a quick break from teaching. It’s normal to feel nervous. Prepare thoroughly and practice. Confidence comes with experience.

Be Patient

As we have briefly mentioned, your learners are highly unlikely to be experts in the subject you have chosen. They may need clarification of what a term means, which is completely understandable. Take the time to explain to them before you move on with your micro-teach. Whilst timings are important, remember you should have already set aside some time for answering questions later on. You might just have to shorten that window a little instead. Recognise that learners have different needs. Adapt your approach to cater to a variety of learning styles.

Finishing the micro-teach

If you find yourself at the end of the micro-teach and you haven’t covered all of your objectives, try not to worry. It is always best to over-plan so you have extra activities under your sleeve if you need them.

Ideally, by the time you’re hitting the 15-minute mark, you should have gone through all of your objectives and should think about finishing the session. Now would be a good time to see if any of your learners have any questions.

What Is In The Micro Teach Lesson Plan Template

This versatile Micro Teach Template makes it easy to design engaging lessons for your learners. It includes sections for you to integrate; British Values, English, Math and ICT learning opportunities.

This isn’t just a template; it’s your all-in-one toolkit for creating lessons that meet all educational standards and will help you engage with your learners. Compatible with Microsoft Word and Google Docs this downloadable file will be in a .docx format.

Your 20-page PDF Guide to Create an Engaging Microteaching Lesson Plan

This guide was reserved exclusively for students enrolled on our Level 3 Award in Education and Training qualification. However, due to repeated requests, we are now making this available to everyone. Our exclusive 20-page PDF Guide is a deep dive into all aspects of planning a micro teach and helps you make your lesson as good as it can possibly be. Get it today, and let the transformation of your teaching approach begin!

Available to purchase and download today

If you would like more information on the Level 3 Award in Education and Training, please contact us today on 01205 805 155.