Evaluating the Effectiveness of Micro-Co-Teaching Sessions
Reflect on your experience during the four micro-co-teaching (MCT) sessions. Use the following questions to guide your reflection. You can choose to focus on specific questions that resonate most with your experience or address all of them for a comprehensive evaluation. Write your responses in paragraps.
Your Emotional Journey:
- How did you feel throughout the sessions?
- Provide an account of your feelings before, during, and after the MCT sessions.
Session Preparation and Execution:
- How well-prepared were you?
- To what extent did the sessions unfold as you anticipated?
- Did the activities you conducted achieve their intended goals?
Improvements and Adjustments:
- If you could change anything about your sessions, what would it be and why?
Collaboration with Partner(s):
- How effectively did you collaborate with your partner(s)?
- What were the strengths and weaknesses of your collaboration?
- Was the workload distributed evenly between you?
- How did you feel about the teaching roles you assumed during the MCT activities?
Overall Experience:
- Use three adjectives to describe the impact of this whole experience for you.
Carl
ReplyDelete1. I felt like the class was a low-stress environment for co-teaching. Even when a session didn't go so well there weren't any negative feelings in terms of being unsatisfied with an outcome.
2. Each session was planned together via group chat and collaborating on a planning document. I felt that each session resembled our original plan quite well, even when some last minute changes were necessary.
3. I think our last session could have had a more rigid structure, but other than that I feel that each week's session worked well with it's intended purpose.
4. I think our teamwork went well. Each week involves a lot of discussion and modification based on each person's input and we tried to make sure every member had their own portion to present for each week. I think the reason this worked well was that we each chose which part of each lesson we would take the lead on.
5. Practical, reflective and exploratory
1.) I felt good about the sessions in general. After the first session I had a much better idea about what was expected of us which made the future sessions much easier to plan for. Which also made coordination easier.
Delete2.) the first session I thought I was prepared for but I got a bit of tunnel vision and then was unable to navigate around a PowerPoint issue smoothly which affected the overall deliverance. This was a great lesson in always needing a plan B to easily shift to. I feel that sessions 2 and 3 met their goals. 1 met some but not all. And for 4 i’m not sure as I was away.
3.I wouldn’t change anything as we were able to deliver and apply our ideas in context and were provided with immediate feedback. This helped with bad habits and with humility.
4.) I feel that we worked very well and efficiently together. Of course as I was absent for the fourth session the work was not even then. However, overall we were very efficient in our development of lessons and communicated very clearly to one another. I feel that the dynamic in actually delivering the lessons reflected each of our levels of experience.
5.) Efficient, constructive, refreshing.
1. Generally I felt excited and supported during this session. It was encouraging to be introduced to new ideas and a new teaching setting with the support of co-teachers and the class. Before MCT, I wasn’t sure what to expect- but did not feel concerned. During MCT, I really enjoyed participating in and learning from the lessons of other teams. I also enjoyed collaborating with my co-teachers. After MCT, I feel that I’ve learned a lot and feel more able to implement the ideas learned into my own teaching context.
ReplyDelete2. The readings and videos were helpful in preparing for the MCT sessions. I particularly liked that the videos showed in-depth examples of each approach and method. My MCT team typically met at least 2 times before teaching, with regular communication in between. Of course, since we were learning, it was a process of trial and error and occasionally ideas in the lesson plan did not work as anticipated in the actual classroom setting. Even though this could be a little frustrating, these moments were equally as valuable as any successes. I think that if the goals were to 1) demonstrate different approaches and methods and 2) to collaborate — then the goals were achieved.
3. If I could change anything, I would do research and reading about each method and approach outside of what was provided in the course. For example, each week had additional recommended reading. I tried to look at these when possible, but given the time constraints (due to moving to a new country, settling in an apartment, etc.) it wasn’t always possible.
4. I think that my partners and I established our strengths, areas for improvement, and communication style. The strengths were that we were all dedicated to the task, and wanted to do a good job. I think our weaknesses were some difficulties in managing different communication and project management styles— however, this is common in any group work setting. I believe that the workload was distributed evenly, and we often delegated tasks based on our understanding of each other’s strengths and what we enjoyed working on. In terms of teaching roles, I think we had some misunderstandings around the different between “team teaching” and “co-teaching”, however this was resolved about halfway through the session. I think that we each brought energy and professionalism during our lessons.
5. Informative, Enjoyable, Challenging
Micro co-teaching has been a very productive task for me personally. I have learnt collaboration and communication through this approach. Emotionally, it has been a roller coaster. For instance, In last micro co-teaching session, I performed not that well and I was intimidated. So in the previous two micro co teaching, I had wonderful experience and I found it something to be applicable in real life scenario. Sometimes sessions do not go the way we had planned it in our head and that puts me in a very difficult spot. I want to work on it. If, I can change something about my micro co teaching sessions it would definitely be my last one, I would prepare and practice more. As for my partner, She is truly gifted when it comes to teaching. It seems so natural for her. She led our duo swiftly. Micro co-teaching also somehow taught me that perhaps one should always come prepared in advance and do not let your fears take over you. Sometimes I believe I could have done better if it was a real class room because there you do not feel under pressure of your peers who are very much experienced. Anyway, this experience made me re think many things which would not pop up in my head without it.
ReplyDeleteOverall, before beginning the micro co-teaching sessions, I was relatively uneasy about the success rate of teaching in a group format. However, after all four sessions, that emotional state had rapidly switched. I am now both satisfied and enlightened by the efficacy, success, and knowledge gained from the sessions. Through numerous virtual planning sessions with my team, I felt that we were well equipped and well-prepared before each presentation. The one time that the learning goals were not achieved as intended was when we had a grammar module placed in the middle of a situational language teaching lesson. Our workload was distributed evenly. From the beginning of the co-teaching sessions to the end, we each maintained a 3-activity rule: each instructor planned, set the learning objectives, and executed an activity each in the mock lesson. If I could describe the micro co-teaching sessions in 3 adjectives, I would choose insightful, cooperative, and preparatory.
ReplyDeleteNatalie
ReplyDelete1. I know when I'm in teacher mode I don't have much time to think, so getting to slow down and observe is very helpful. Getting to see other students interpretations. of differing methods is enlightening.
2. As a teacher I tend to over prepare on a linguistic level, I try to anticipate what language features my students will struggle with but with LI English speakers this is less of a worry thus more attention must be paid to providing instructions. I think most activities achieved the intended goals but it was learners good to were see where confused.
3. I think I would add more detail and step by step examples for most activities especially those aimed at young learners.
4. I think there were some miscommunications between myself and my partner. I think having 2 teachers made the distribution of in class activities a challenge.
5. Interesting, enlightening
1. Before each MCT session, I usually felt excited to present our lessons to the class since we had given so much thought and effort into each aspect of it. I also felt slightly nervous because I wanted it to go well and fit the method/approach we had chosen for the week and hoped our interpretation of the approach was accurate. During the session was always my favorite part because we were able to execute our plan and interact with our classmates in a specific way that felt dynamic. Reflecting and discussing the experience afterwards always felt helpful and constructive as well. I was relieved to have completed each session knowing we had done our best each time.
ReplyDelete2. I felt pretty prepared for each lesson- aside from worrying about printing issues and making sure everyone showed up- we always discussed the materials needed and what the goal for each activity was so it felt like we had clear intentions going into each one. Each session usually went as intended, with some slow moments or execution notes being taken into account afterwards that could have improved the overall reception of the lesson. Otherwise, each session did have the intended effect we wanted when creating each activity. I learned the most from our Halloween and job interviews lessons specifically in terms of how to execute them more clearly for our specific targeted classes.
3. If I could change anything about our sessions, it might have been the amount of stress/overthinking that I did at times when it came to creating activities. Some of them could have been simplified and more direct so that the goals for each one was clearer and cohesive.
4. Working with my other group mates was a fun challenge because we each approach the lesson differently and found new ways to communicate, compromise, and explain our ideas. We were very good finding creative ways to approach a new method/approach.
5. Fun, challenging, creative
1. This has been my favorite course of the term because of how practical it was. Personally, I learn best by doing, so being able to connect the theory to real-life examples was the ideal learning environment for me. Also, seeing and participating in my classmates' teaching has enabled me to develop and adopt different teaching strategies and philosophies as I learned from others. Before we began, I was timid to conduct these lessons in front of the class, however quickly realized how inviting and encouraging our fellow classmates were and began to feel a great sense of excitement in presenting the lessons. I love teaching, so it provided me with the opportunity to try new methods in a safe environment, where it was okay if something didn't work or go the way I planned.
ReplyDelete2. I felt well prepared for the sessions and I owe a big thanks to the group I worked with. We worked well as a team and felt we delegated the tasks in a successful way. Due to this, our presentations of the lessons flowed smoothly. As the term progressed, I believe are lessons developed better and better each class allowing us to achieve the intended goals.
3. If I could change anything about our sessions, I think it would be to try one method that is drastically different than the ones I typically use. I felt like the methods I taught in the sessions were similar to my teaching philosophy and ones I would gravitate towards. So, it would have been beneficial to do one method outside of my comfort zone in class to receive reflective feedback.
4.My group was the best part! We collaborated by meeting almost weekly, we were all extremely flexible and it allowed for our lessons to flow very nicely. Through collaboration we were also able to add new websites, educational tools, etc to our repertoire as we shared useful tips. It was a safe space to take risks and reflect together.
5. Engaging, Effective, Exciting
veronica. i remember being absolutely horrified before my 1st micro co-teaching, and because i was too nervous i would sort of blindly just follow the lesson plan we’ve prepared. it’s nice to know that by the 4th session i could concentrate on the students more, if they understood the assignment or need any help, or address an issue if there is one. i remember on my 1st session (oral approach) i could see some students yawning and being visibly bored but i just couldn’t address it at the time. as far as the activities themselves, me & elia always made sure to rehearse before each session and thoroughly discuss what and when we’ll do so the outcomes were pretty much predictable. if there was a mistake it was mostly related to our bad understanding of the specific method requirements rather than the task outcomes. students would always complete what was asked successfully but sometimes what they did wasn’t a correct method representation. for myself, i would like to make sure i spend more time on watching practical examples of each method and how they’re actually applied in the classroom. i think this time i was more concentrated on the theory and haven’t explore that much of different examples and variations of the approaches. collaborating with Elia was the best thing ever for me, i thing we have a great balance and understanding of each others “temperaments” in the class. he is much more logical and usually would have done more “digging” on the method whereas i feel more like ideas generator. i would usually give an idea or a general concept and we would start building from there. he also took on the technical aspect of the planning (pps and so on) whereas i would feel more comfortable in writing the lesson plans or do the final editing. it was also interesting to compare our reflections and ideas since none of us actually teach yet. this micro co-teaching experience was terrific (in the most positive way), inspiring and very reassuring!💖
ReplyDeleteKATERINA: Emotional journey:
ReplyDeleteI was a lot more nervous in the beginning, especially during the first session. Demonstrating a class in front of so many other educators was a bit intimidating in the beginning. But as the course progressed, I felt more confident and comfortable presenting in class.
Session Preparation and Execution:
Apart from our first session, I believe that my group was well prepared. Even though we did prepare for the first session, it was more difficult to know what was expected. However, our mistakes in the first session was enough feedback to get better prepared for the rest of the course.
Improvements and Adjustments:
If I were to make any adjustments, I think it would be to better assess the material used for each level. Some of our material, especially in our CLIL session (Christmas around the World) our material was too easy for the level we chose. So, I would suggest they we could have been more careful and make sure that the material is proper.
Collaboration with Partners:
I think our groups collaborated very effectively. We were able to easily agree on our topics. We all first made sure that we agree with the topic, with all activities and then work was always equally divided so we all can benefit from the experience. I also think that we worked well together regarding micro co-teaching. Before presenting, we all knew our roles and what to do.
Overall experience:
Interactive, enjoyable, educational (we actually learnt methods through experience)
My microcoteaching reflections stems from an eagernes to collaborate and learn and grwo with my partners. During the session, I felt engaged and motivated, though it was difficult to organize thelogistical aspects of the expectations. Looking back, I found a lot of understanding in the purpose and also of what we had achieved- including the growth and flexibility.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of preparation, I felt well-prepared based on my experience, but having support through a weekly lecture would have further supported my growth. Within the team, though, we met weekly to align on the goals, methods, and expectations. This allowed me to feel confident and ready to contribute meaningfully. The session largely unfolded as I had anticipated, with most activities proceeding according to plan. There were moments where we had to adjust based on feedback, and a major part of my learning came from a deeper understanding of Task-Based Learning, including the layout of the lesson. I was forced to reflect on what I was previously taught and pivot to include research and experiences that I had not considered or been exposed to. Regarding collaboration, I believe I did the best I could to work effectively with my partners. Our strengths lay in complementary skills.
Overall, I felt confident in my role and was regularly reminded of the importance of professional theories and methods in creating a successful learning environment. The experience was reflective, collaborative, and supportive- placing the bulk of the responsibility on the learners and highlighting the importance of analyzing and synthesizing information as a Master's Degree student.
Emotional journey and preparation
ReplyDeleteIn terms of emotional journey, I always felt a little anxious and worried. Especially the first time - breaking the ice - and after that, session after session, I felt better and better, somehow gaining more confidence. I kept having a general sensation of worrying and anxiety throughout though and I am pretty sure it is a feeling that will never leave me. Actually, I hope it never does. I mean here a positive kind - and level of anxiety - the one that prompts you to do your best and does not lead to panic attacks and blocks you. In many occasions in life, I had the chance to discuss with teachers and educators/trainers regarding anxiety and among the many comments that struck me was one like "when you stop feeling anxious, that means the time has come to change your job". This was in my latest training to be a trainer at my current job. Another aspect that I had already experienced in other occasions was how, the before, caused more anxiety than during. Once started, that anxiety would turn into focus, and I noticed in many occasions how time flew by in the blink of an eye, and I would not even realize it. Having experienced it already and knowing how this may affect time management, I always kept this idea in mind and tried and prepare as much as possible to respect timing and avoid exceeding it. Something that in one session I failed to do and that was once again a learning moment in this sense. After, once done and realizing our "creature" came to life, the sensation was amazing. Regardless if all went as intended, suffessfully or not, each time it would be an occasion to learn.
Collaboration and organization
In terms of organization, and collaboration, I had an amazing experience. It was so useful to discuss, put the theory into practice, put together our ideas and discuss their effectiveness. It helped understanding the theory, the same as the session itself.
Change something
In terms of changing, in the session I had exceeded time wise, I would try and follow more my instincts and based on what I had tried at home, cut more and play it safer. I would also try and, especially the first session, work more on avoiding teacher centered sessions.