Micro Teaching

MICRO TEACHING

● Meaning of Micro Teaching

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Meaning of Micro Teaching Micro Teaching is a procedure in which a
student-teacher or trainee teacher practices teaching with a reduced number
of students in a reduced period of time with an emphasis on a narrow and
specific teaching skill.

● Definition of Micro Teaching

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There are many definitions of microteaching given by scholars. Some of the
microteaching definitions are: D.W Allen (1996): According to D.W Allen
"Microteaching is a scaled-down teaching encounter in class size and time".

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R.N bush (1968): "Micro Teaching is a teacher education technique which
allows the teachers to apply clearly defined teaching skills to carefully
prepared lessons in a planned series of five to ten minutes to encounter with
real students, often with an opportunity to observe the result on Video Tape."

● Characteristics and Features of Micro Teaching

The main characteristics of microteaching are:

1. It is a highly individualized training device and an experiment in the field of teacher education which has
been incorporated in the practice of teaching schedule.

2. The students are providing immediate feedback in terms of peer group feedback, tape recorder, or CCTV.

3. Micro teaching is a student teaching skill training technique and not a teaching technique or method.

4. Practice one skill at a time.

5. Reducing the class size to 5 to 10 pupils or students.

6. Limiting the content to a single concept.

7. Microteaching is micro in the sense that it scales down the complexities of real teaching. 8. Micro teaching
advocates the choice and practice of one skill at a time.

● Steps of Micro Teaching

The microteaching program involves the following 9 Steps:

1: Orientation Step

2: Discussion of Teaching Skill Step

3: Selection of a particular teaching skill Step

4: The practice of the Skill Step

5: Proving the feedback Step

6: Re-Planning Step

7: Re-teaching Step

8: Re-feedback Step

9: Repetition of the micro-teaching cycle

1: Orientation Step

In this step particular skill to be practiced is explained to the teacher trainees in
terms of the purpose and components of the skill with suitable examples. At the
beginning the student teachers should be given the necessary theoretical
background about micro teaching by having a free and fair discussion of aspects
like those given below:

-Concept of micro-teaching

-significance of using microteaching

-The procedure of micro teaching

-Requirements and Strategies for Adopting micro-teaching techniques

2: Discussion of Teaching Skill Step

In this step, the teacher trainee gives the demonstration of the skill of micro
teaching in simulated conditions to the teacher trainees. In this step, the
knowledge and understanding of the following aspects are to be developed.

-Analysis of teaching into component teaching skills.

-The discussion of the rationale and role of these teaching skills in teaching.

-Discussion about the component teaching behaviors comprising various
teaching skills.

3: Selection of a particular teaching skill Step

In this step, the teacher trainee plans a short lesson plan on the basis of the
demonstrated skill for his or her practice. They are also provided with necessary
orientation and processing material for the practice of that skill.

4: The practice of the Skill Step

In this step, the trainee teachers teach the lesson to a small group of students. His
/ Her Lesson is supervised by the supervisor and peers where possible. The
student-teacher may also have his lesson taped on a video or audiotape.

5: Proving the feedback Step

On the basis of the observation of a lesson, the supervisor gives feedback to a
teacher trainee. The supervisor reinforces the instances of effective use of the skill
and draws the attention of the teacher trainee to the various points where he could
not do well. Whenever possible the help may also be taken from the various
gadgets like audiotapes, videotapes, and closed-circuit televisions.

6: Re-Planning Step

After getting the feedback given by the supervisor the teacher trainee re-plans the
lesson plan in order to use the skill in a more effective manner in the second trail.

7: Re-teaching Step

In this step, the revised lesson is taught to another comparable group of students.
In this session of 6 minutes, the student-teacher re-teaches his micro lesson on
the basis of his prepared plan or rearranged setting.

8: Re-feedback Step

In this, the supervisor observes the re-teach lesson and gives re-feedback to the
teacher trainee with convincing arguments and reasons.

9: Repetition of the micro-teaching cycle

This is the last step of micro-teaching in which the "teach-re-teach" cycle may be
repeated several times till adequate mastery level is achieved by the trainee.