GCSE Biology, Groby Community College

Tonight I used the PowerPoint Presentation with the text boxes. Whilst I have some minor niggles with the layout and look of the presentation I am pleased at how easy they are to implement. The learners seemed impressed that they could contribute to the presentation. As this was also an observed session I am pleased that the use of the boxes worked well, and that the observer was also impressed. As the main point of the exercise was to collate opinion the text boxes allowed me to pool these ideas in an accessible and retrievable format.

One point made by the observer was that I do not ask enough probing questions. I am aware that this happens. I frequently ask if everyone understands but I fail to ask leading and probing questions. This is partly down to my lack of confidence; I don’t want to look daft by asking a learner a question that I’ve not prepared them to answer. Also I don’t know necessarily how to ask the right questions, it is a knack I am yet to learn and one area of teaching where I feel I am weakest. I am improving my knowledge of assessment techniques, mainly written assessment as this is what the summative assessment will be for the biology course. I could do with sharing some good practise on verbal assessment techniques. I am also aware that some of my learners are more vociferous than others. Of course, just because someone doesn’t want to speak out in a class doesn’t mean they don’t know the answers. I just don’t know how to tease the information I want out of some of the more introverted members of the class.

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