Reflective Summary

 

I have successfully completed my teaching demonstration which was one of the assignments related to the Classroom Management course and it was a good experience for me since this was my first onsite teaching experience. For the teaching demonstration, I demonstrated a grammar lesson “passive voice” for grade ten students and it was the post-task. Positive reinforcement, immediate feedback, and giving instructions are the strategies that I used during my teaching demonstration. Overall, I believe I did fairly well in implementing these strategies. Incorporating gamification in the lesson immensely contributed to promoting student-centered learning for the sake of maintaining the interaction within the classroom. Malamed (2012) has stated that “gamification is the process of engaging people, motivating action, promoting learning, and solving issues utilizing game-based mechanics, aesthetics, and game thinking”. In a nutshell, it is noteworthy to mention that social constructivism and behaviorism were employed in my teaching demonstration.

The feedback received from the lecturer in charge indicates that the structure of the lesson was deemed good, and it was further noted that the task employed in the lesson demanded a high level of mental activation, which is considered beneficial for the chosen target language. Active participation from most of the students was observed as a result. These aspects can be regarded as the positive aspects of the teaching demonstration.

However, a challenge was encountered in the form of time management, leading to the last part being rushed due to insufficient time. It has been identified that it would be preferable for techniques to engage the audience more effectively to be utilized, as there was a slight disconnection between me and the students.

Various means were employed to engage the audience. Group activities were encouraged, leading to the enhancement of collaborative and cooperative learning modes, as well as the galvanization of their comprehension of the material. To increase engagement, a primary focus was placed on the seating arrangement. Students were asked to arrange their seats according to their preferences leading them to do the assigned task. The lesson was initiated with a game to teach, and this resulted in the creation of interaction among the students. The use of visual aids, marks given tasks, and positive reinforcement (pebbles for the winners) were found in my teaching demonstration and it immensely contributed to the creation of engagement within the classroom. Learning with authentic materials was identified as a method to reduce the monotony of traditional learning and transform the learning context into a happening place for the students. It was understood that improvements must be made in the instructional time and the management of students' engagement with the lessons.

Delivering this teaching demonstration provided me with valuable insights. I realized the importance of flexibility in teaching and also recognized that building a positive classroom culture takes time and consistent effort, and I intend to continue fostering a supportive learning environment in future teaching endeavors.

In conclusion, this teaching demonstration allowed me to assess my classroom management techniques, identify strengths and areas for improvement, and gain valuable insights into effective teaching practices. I am committed to applying these lessons in my future teaching endeavors to create a more engaging and supportive learning environment for my students.