Teaching Self Critique

Installment #2 of my "Eating Locally" project was making a video of my presentation to my class. After watching and critiquing my teaching style and presentation methods, I have come to the following conclusions:

PROS

• I do a good job playing off comments and questions; I can generally incorporate them in my presentation and continue on without losing my place
• When I was up there presenting, I felt like a robot. Day-to-day I spend very little time lecturing, so to get up in front and speak for 20 minutes seemed very foreign, and made me uncomfortable. I worried I was boring my students. Watching the video, however, I seem more natural and comfortable than I felt at the time. Class interaction was solid (although compared to what it normally is in that class, low). On review, I thought my volume level, enunciation, and inflection were fine, and not too robotic at all. This also made me realize something about my preferred teaching methods - not relying on the lecture format!
  

NEEDS IMPROVEMENT

• I use my hand when I talk. A lot. While it didn't seem particularly distracting during the presentation, I fear I might go over the top on other occasions. I need to find some way to keep my hands still, at least part of the time.
• I like to lean! Again, it seemed to come across as natural, not laziness, in the video (from my perspective). However, I did notice that when I leaned against the table for a few seconds, the way my body was positioned I was shutting out a handful of students. If I simply must lean, I need to remember to not do so from a position where I have my back (even partially) turned.
• I need to check student understanding more often. This was just a "fun" activity, so I could afford to have students tune out as long as they were being quiet. I didn't attempt to draw in those I wasn't sure were paying attention. In a real lesson I would need to do more questioning to check progress and attentiveness.
  

LESSONS LEARNED

• The break where I had to re-align the SmartBoard lasted FOREVER when I was teaching, but watching it on the video, I realize it only lasted a few seconds. I remember worrying that total chaos might erupt because I had to briefly pause to deal with technology. The moral of the story? I don't HAVE to fill up every single second. Don't be afraid of silence.
  
• I did not feel completely prepared before giving this "lesson." I think this contributed to my fear of sounding robotic. I realize that the more comfortable I am with my subject, the more clearly I will be able to formulate my presentation. This will translate into feeling more natural in front of the class.
  

Though the thought of watching myself teaching was nerve wracking, it turned out to be a rather painless experience. This was a pretty sweet project all in all.

For a teaser of me teaching, click here. Sorry you only get thirty seconds! Due to technical difficulties, I was unable to upload more to the Internet.