Online microteaching reflection

What did you like and dislike about online teaching?

Microteaching was one form of teaching that I could never quite grow fond of, it always seems chaotic and there always seems to be some sort of issue when doing a lesson, either it is loadshedding, or someone’s mic doesn’t work or their camera or the internet isn’t working, I always dislike the fact I can’t connect with the students face to face, it feels so impersonal. There are also students that don’t have access to laptops and internet this leaves them at a disadvantage which I feel is unfair. There are some positives, online teaching makes sure that learners even when ill can attend school, and if there was a second outbreak there is methods of teaching so the students aren’t put at a disadvantage.

What new skills did you learn from this experience?

I now have a skill on PowerPoint that I never had before, this online microteaching needed resources that I couldn’t make for the students to feel but still needed to keep their attention, therefore, PowerPoint was the next best option. I also learnt how to work online platforms such as blackboard, how you can draw on the screen and make it interesting for the students. I have also learnt the new skill of classroom management on an online platform, you can mute students that won’t listen or even put them in another room until they have decided to calm down and listen, all of these are thanks to online microteaching.

What would you do differently?

I would do a practice run of my lesson on the online platform, just to make sure that all the parts of the lesson run smoothly and there is no issue with the online platform before the lesson. I would’ve also incorporated more IT factors into my lesson too if I had the knowledge I do now, so instead of using handmade resources only I can touch I would rather have shared online pictures that all the learners could have on their own laptops.

Did you choose appropriate tools to teach your online lesson, explain why.

The tools I used may have kept the attention of the learners and gotten what I was trying to tach across, but they didn’t work as well I was hoping for. I believe I should’ve instead made the tools in an online platform for all the learners to have on their own laptop instead of just looking at me using the tool, this would’ve aided in their lesson experience, and I believe making it more beneficial for the students. But on the other hand the tools I did make use of, for example PowerPoint was interesting and kept the students involved and aided in their understanding.

How has this experience developed you for teaching in a school?

Not only has online teaching given me a new sense of gratitude that teaching is predominantly done face to face, but it has also developed my IT skills in the classroom I now feel confident in my abilities to incorporate these into the classroom, in turn giving me a newfound set of skills that make me a better more creative teacher at the end of the day. It has also developed my IT skills enough that I feel that it a fun way to tach and grab the students attention in the making.