Online Microteaching: Reflections on My Experience

Welcome back to my blog! I’m Kgomotso Masoga, and today I want to share my reflections on my recent online microteaching lesson on the topic of population growth and change. This experience provided valuable insights into my teaching practices and helped me develop my skills in an online environment.

What Went Well

During my online microteaching lesson, several aspects went well. The students were actively engaged throughout the session, which was encouraging. I implemented interactive elements, such as polls and breakout rooms for group discussions, allowing students to collaborate and share their thoughts on population growth and its impact on societies. The use of visuals in my presentation helped clarify complex concepts, and I noticed that students responded positively to the multimedia elements.

Challenges and Obstacles

However, I encountered some challenges as well. One significant obstacle was managing technology issues, such as connectivity problems that affected both my internet and some students' connections. To address this, I made sure to have a backup plan, including sharing the lesson materials in advance and recording the session for those who couldn’t participate fully. Additionally, I found it challenging to monitor student engagement in a virtual environment. To overcome this, I encouraged students to use the chat feature for questions and comments, which helped me gauge their understanding in real-time.

Meeting Learning Objectives

Reflecting on my lesson, I believe it met the learning objectives I set out to achieve. The primary goals were for students to understand key concepts related to population growth, such as factors influencing it and its socio-economic impacts. At the end of the lesson, students were able to articulate their understanding through discussions and a short quiz, indicating that the objectives were met effectively.

Appropriate ICT Tools

I chose appropriate ICT tools for my online lesson, including Zoom for live instruction and Google Slides for my presentation. Zoom allowed for real-time interaction and engagement, while Google Slides provided a visually appealing way to present information. The use of these tools was intentional, as they are widely accessible and familiar to both educators and students, facilitating a smoother learning experience.

Lessons Learned for Future Teaching

From this experience, I learned the importance of adaptability and the need to be prepared for unforeseen circumstances in an online teaching environment. I realized that incorporating various teaching strategies, such as interactive discussions and multimedia presentations, can cater to diverse learning styles. In future lessons, I plan to implement more collaborative activities and encourage student-led discussions to enhance engagement further.

Incorporating Feedback

After the lesson, I reviewed feedback from my peers and mentor, which was invaluable for my growth. My mentor highlighted the need for clearer instructions during group activities, as some students appeared confused about their tasks. Based on this feedback, I plan to provide more explicit guidelines and examples in future lessons. I also appreciated positive feedback on my enthusiasm and the use of engaging visuals, which I aim to maintain as a key aspect of my teaching style.

In conclusion, my online microteaching experience on population growth and change was a significant learning opportunity. While I faced challenges, the overall engagement and feedback reaffirmed my ability to teach effectively in a digital environment. I look forward to applying these lessons and continuously improving my teaching practices as I move forward in my educational journey. Thank you for joining me on this reflection, and I hope to share more insights with you soon!