What is Microteaching?

The art of teaching is a complex process, which is not limited to transferring of knowledge from one to
another. It requires good verbal and non-verbal skills. It includes various techniques in order to transfer
knowledge effectively. Not everyone can master it. With the vast growth in all sectors, effective
teaching skills are in great demand. Therefore, due to this demand, the concept of micro teaching came
into action. It is a new innovative program for teachers, which enhances their classroom attitude and
behavior. Many pre-primary education institutes have taken up micro teaching practices in order to
equip teachers with effective method of teaching.

Underlying Principles of Micro teaching:

Micro teaching revolves around certain principles to improve its reach in all round development of the
teachers.

1. One skill at one time:1

In skills in microteaching are targeted one at a time. Training on particular skills are given until it is
mastered. Once mastered another skill is targeted next. Thus, micro teaching aims for one skill at a
time.

2. Small scale content:

Limiting the content gives more freedom and ease to the trainees. Thus, micro teaching is based upon
the principle of limited content. Teachers are to prepare their lessons within the given content
therefore it becomes easier for them to conduct their lessons.

3. Practice makes a man perfect:

Mastering skills require practice. While focusing on one skill at a time, micro teaching program also
gives an opportunity to practice those skills. Lots of practice can boost the self-confidence and promote
in development of teaching skills.

4. Experiments:

Experiments are the key factors in any concept. In micro teaching, many experiments are conducted in
order to test the skills of the teachers. For example, the supervisors conduct experiments where the
length of the lessons, time duration, strength of students in the class etc is changed. These skills are
tested under controlled condition.
5. Instantaneous feedbacks:

Micro teaching consists of teacher-pupil and supervisor as students. Once a session ends, teacher-pupil
and supervisors come up with their feedback. This feedback is given instantly after the lesson plan ends.
Thus, it helps in rectifying the drawbacks.

6. Self-evaluation opportunities:

Evaluation plays an important role in any task. In micro teaching, supervisors conduct various test and
thus there are several chances to analyze mistakes. Evaluation gives an opportunity to understand the
mistake and overcome it. This program includes a session where drawbacks are pointed out along with
their solution. Thus, overall improvement becomes an easier target.

7. Continuous efforts:

Acquiring and mastering skills is a slow and ongoing process. Even after mastering a previous skill, one
should continually strive for betterment. Continuous efforts makes it easier to attain overall
development.

Procedure of Micro teaching:

1. Skill definition:

The pupil teacher or the supervisor defines a certain skill. The skills of micro teaching are defined
regarding the teaching behaviors in order to procure knowledge of required skills, which they have
to focus on.

2. Demonstration:

Demonstration is the second step in the process. Experts demonstrate the specific skill by themselves
or with the help of audio\video tape recordings to the teacher trainee. This gives an idea to the teachers
to work accordingly.

3. Lesson planning:

This step is the first action by the student teacher. The trainee teacher plans a short lesson through
which he/she could practice the skill. This microteaching lesson plan is done with the help of his
supervisor.

4. Conducting lesson:

Once the planning is done, according to the targeted skill the pupil-teacher teaches the planned lesson
to the group of students. These lessons are observed by supervisor and pupil teachers. Further, they
are video-taped, audio-taped, or televised through a CCTV camera. These tapes are later used for self-
evaluation as well.

5. Discussion and conclusion:

Once the teaching session comes to an end it is followed by a concluding session. Concluding session
consist of feedback by the supervisor. During this session, the audio or video recording may also be
displayed in order to give an opportunity to evaluate oneself. Moreover, it also boosts the confidence
level of the trainee. It is the best way to reinforce the trainee to work better the next time.

6. Re-planning:

Mastering a skill is an ongoing process. Thus, once the cycle of micro teaching revolves, the process is
repeated. This repetition involves re-planning of the lesson plan. The aim of this re-planning is to master
the skill mentioned earlier.

7. Re-teaching:

On completion of the re-planning of the lesson, it is again taught to another group of students from the
same class. The time duration is kept as same as the previous class. This method contributes in
practicing the skill repeatedly.

8. Re-discussion:

At the end of re-teaching session, the discussion and conclusion step is repeated. These discussion and
suggestions encourages the performance of the trainee. Thus, the process of feedback is procured to
enhance the performance further more.

9. Redoing:

After the end of every session, this cycle is repeated. The repetition is continued until the required skill
is mastered. This process is repeated while attaining all the required skills.

Thus, we can conclude that micro-teaching involves the 4Rs viz, Recording, Re-teaching, Re-discussing
and Redoing.

Three Phases of Micro teaching:

1. Knowledge acquisition:

This is the first phase of micro teaching. It includes collection of data. In this phase, the trainee teacher
gathers knowledge about the required skills by reading different literature as well as going through
certain demonstrating videos. Further, this phase includes the understanding of required skill in a
rational manner, as a classroom component.

2. Skill acquisition:

This is the working phase of micro teaching program. Under this phase the trainee teacher is asked to
prepare lessons and practice, skills based on the model presented at the start. Here two factors are of
major importance of micro teaching i.e. the feedback and the setting. Setting includes the length of the
lesson, the duration of the class, the skill to be obtained, supervisor and the students.

3. Transferring phase:

This is the last and major phase of micro-teaching. Here the trainee comes out in a real situation, which
is not controlled. Here the teachers as well as the students get the platform to learn and grow. This
takes place in a real classroom, unlike the previous stages of micro teaching.

Benefits or Advantages of Micro Teaching:

Micro-teaching is a platform for beginner teachers to improve teaching competencies.

1. Elasticity of practice:

Micro-teaching helps in developing various skills in trainees as well as the current teaching staff. It helps
in improving the handling skills of the teachers. It gives better opportunity due to small-scale teaching.
Moreover, it broadens the knowledge of various techniques of teaching.

2. Confidence booster:

Micro teaching is a personality enhancer too. Due to several micro teaching activities and practices,
micro teaching effectively increases the confidence level of the teachers. Moreover, the experience of
teaching enables them in better classroom management.

3. Budget oriented:

Unlike other various programs and seminars that are very costly, micro teaching program is budget
oriented. Teachers can practice within the real class or at any other place.

4. More learning and less damage:

Micro teaching program is conducted with not more than 3-4 students at a time. This makes it possible
to acquire a better teaching experience. In addition, it lessens the chances of mistakes.
5. Improves attitude:

A positive attitude contributes to better results. Thus, one of the objectives of this program is to guide
the trainees to attain a positive attitude towards any criticism. As a result, negative feed backs also
motivate the trainees to strive for betterment.

6. Promotes systematic lesson planning:

Lesson planning is one of the skills that a teacher needs to master. Micro teaching program, within a
given content, helps the trainee to prepare systematic lesson plans.

7. Instant feedback:

Feedbacks are the best way to improve. Micro teaching enables the teachers to gain instant feedbacks
from the supervisors. An instant feedback gives more potential for rectifying mistakes.

8. Mastering skills:

This program helps in mastering types of micro teaching skills and strategies like lecturing, questioning,
probing and initiating discussions. Further, it helps in improving a separate teaching style.

Limitations or Disadvantages of Micro Teaching:

1. Hampers the creativity:

Creativity is the core of any job. It flows along with the task. However, in process of micro teaching, due
to limited period, it becomes difficult to bring out that creativity. Thus, micro teaching does not
contribute in increasing the bars of creativity.

2. Training Staff:

Better teaching promotes better learning experience. Similarly, for better teaching one needs to
undergo better training as well. Micro teaching course benefits teachers in gaining that experience, but
it requires well-trained educators to train the teachers. Without a proper educating staff, it is impossible
to implement micro teaching course.

3. Lesser student lesser interest:

Teaching is an art. However, not everyone is capable of teaching. Any job needs passion and interest.
They play a key role in driving the person to strive for improvement. In micro teaching program, there
are maximum 3-4 students therefore lesser students fail to motivate the teacher to improve. Instead
there are chances of teachers losing their interest altogether.
4. Wastes a lot of time:

Micro teaching is teacher oriented activity. Here in, the focus is on improving efficiency in teaching
techniques. Each session lasts around 5 10 minutes minimum. During this period, the aim is to develop
teaching skills and thus student learning is ignored. It certainly wastes the time of student, as it does
not benefit him. Further, for practicing several times, various students are called at different period.
This may also hamper their overall academic performance. Thus, it is advisable to conduct the training
program keeping in mind all the factors.

5. Training period timing:

Micro teaching program is undoubtedly a benefiting course to the teaching staff. It is a promising
method for the holistic development of the teachers in the teaching field. However, there is one minor
drawback of this program. The training period is not enough to develop all the required skills properly.
In addition, one trainee needs approximately 35 minutes to practice once. Not more than ten trainees
can practice once within five hours. It is certainly a time consuming program.

6. Not realistic and practical:

Micro teaching is a very advanced form of learning however; it does have its own limitation. When it
comes to teaching a diverse level of students at once, it becomes a hassle. During the training, the
strength of the students is limited however when the strength of students is increased it seems like a
problem. This program manages to keep the teachers away from the real classroom problems. As a
result, trainees struggle in maintaining classroom behavior. Moreover, artificial situation do not help in
preparing teachers for real time situation.

7. One alone is not sufficient:

Micro teaching is a concept innovated at Stanford University by Professor Robert Bush and Dwight
Allen. One of the principle of micro teaching is skill enhancement. However, these skills are targeted
one at a time and so not all skills are developed within the given period. Thus, integration of different
micro teaching techniques is needed.

8. One at a time:

Apart from the skills, micro teaching involves only one trainee at a time. For a single session of training,
it requires approximate 35 minutes. Thus, single trainee can practice only once in 35 minutes. It is not
only time consuming but also an irritating process for the supervisors if there are more then ten trainees
in a batch.

Micro teaching is indeed an advanced level of teaching program that enables the teachers to gain
confidence before stepping into the profession of a teacher. With the vast impact of globalization on
every aspect of the world, there is certainly need of various schools. Efficient and effective teaching is
one of the major factors parents look at before enrolling their children into a school. Thus,
implementing a micro teaching programs for new teachers as well as in service teachers are an ideal
way to set foot with the world. Pros and cons are a part of every innovation and thus keeping in mind
those aspects one should opt for the suitable program. Micro teaching is a widely accepted technique
adopted and approved by various institutions.