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03 Nov 2009
Design and Technology – Subject Pathway Session – 1st October 2009
Delivering a practical demonstration! ...
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03/11/2009
The aim of the session was to plan the demonstration using the university lesson planning proforma and to practice in front of a sympathetic audience. The proforma is structured and leads you through the process well. Preparing the supporting information, gave opportunity to learn more about the machinery. With the added twist of ensuring inclusion for students with English as an additional language, the format of the handouts became more challenging.
Once I had chosen the equipment to demonstrate, I set about filling out the proforma and preparing handouts. With all the preparation completed, I set off to my subject pathway session with a few nerves. Had I done enough? Would I be clear enough?
We split into groups with multiple specialisms in each, so that we all got to learn about other parts of the subject. Watching my fellow students give their demonstrations provided me with ideas for the future. I learnt how to whip cream, how to thread a sewing machine, and how to use the pillar drill. It was then my turn to demonstrate bending acrylic on the line bender. I took a deep breath and started.
The actual demonstration went by so quickly. It was good to compare my timing plan with the actual timing of the demonstration. I had to incorporate revisiting previous knowledge that students would have had, as there was time to fill whilst the line bender was heating the acrylic. This was well received and I was really pleased I had planned for it – imagine if I had a class of year 9 students with 5 minutes unplanned!
The whole experience has done a lot for my confidence and self belief –I can do this! We each received feedback from our peers, which we can use when planning and delivering lessons in the future. Everyone in the Design and Technology PGCE cohort is so different, that the afternoon flew by. No two demonstrations were the same. Our backgrounds are all different, but we all have one aim – to become the best Design and Technology teachers we can.
The subject pathway sessions are a really useful and fun part of the PGCE course. They allow you to test things out in front of peers. If you mess up, they will catch you gently and help you to get back on the right track. The whole learning experience from my point of view is very supportive and encouraging. I am so happy I made the decision to re-train as a teacher.