Online Micro-teaching

What I loved about the online micro-teaching was that it allowed for the opportunity to teach a lesson using technology. In the process of planning the online lesson, I learnt new ways of teaching and creating fun activities that can be completed by the simple use of technology. The online lesson enhanced the teaching and learning by making the most of visual aids and interactive activities.

However, what I disliked was that through an online lesson, the educator cannot definitely make sure that the learners are paying attention and whether they definitely understand the content as compared to physically teaching the lesson in a class environment. The learners would be shy to answer questions or experience network issues which is a challenge as they won't be able to attend or participate in the lesson.

THE SKILLS I'VE LEARNT:

• Time management

• Communication skills

• Technological skills

• Digital literacy

• Team building

WHAT WOULD I CHOOSE TO DO DIFFERENTLY:

I would choose to go the extra mile and make notes of the topic covered for the learners that can be accessed and downloaded at any time, along with changing the activities such as creating more fun games while teaching the content to ensure the learners remain engaged and do not get distracted from the lesson.

DID YOU CHOOSE THE APPROPRIATE TOOLS TO TEACH YOUR ONLINE LESSON, EXPLAIN:

I chose appropriate tools for my online lesson such as a PowerPoint presentation with the important keywords, notes, images and instructions for the learners. I also made use of online tools for activities that kept the learners engaged such as: making use of a YouTube video in the introductory phase and playing Kahoot! in the teaching and learning phase. I also made use of Google Classroom for the learners to upload their worksheet given as homework in the closure phase.

HOW DID THIS DEVELOP YOU FOR TEACHING IN A SCHOOL:

To a certain extent, this did develop me for teaching in a school. This experience enhanced my digital literacy and found new innovative ways to design online activities for the learners. However, majority of the schools do not have access to technology usage in the class, nor do the learners have access to it at the comfort of their home, making online teaching a great challenge to do at the schools I have been to as well. From past experiences, I have noticed that the learners do not know how to use technology and therefore, online teaching is a process that cannot just be done in a school. it will take months of training the learners to be digital literate, including the teacher, myself.

Schools around the Pietermaritzburg and even the world, makes use of different teaching methods and digital platforms. I will have to adapt myself to using those ways in order to teach my lessons despite what I may have learnt rom this online micro-teaching experience.