The key difference between micro-teaching and simulated teaching is that micro-teaching refers to a teacher training technique for learning and practicing teaching skills in a real classroom environment, whereas simulated teaching refers to a technique that is used for teachers to practice teaching skills in a synthetic environment.
What is Micro-teaching?
Micro-teaching is a teaching technique used to develop the teaching skills of teachers. In this method, teachers have the opportunity to teach a classroom and receive feedback on their skills. Teacher trainees or teacher pupils present lessons to a small group of students in front of a mentor. They can conduct a teaching presentation for their colleagues or a small group of their own students for a short period of time.
Micro-teaching aims to enhance the skills and abilities of the teacher trainee or teacher pupil. Since teacher trainees receive feedback on their presentations, they can develop their skills to a greater extent. Micro-teaching also focuses on developing skills like planning, observing, and time management.
What is Simulated Teaching?
Simulated teaching refers to a teaching technique that is used to develop the teaching skills of teacher pupils using a synthetic environment, such as role-playing. Described as a teaching activity that takes place in an artificial learning environment, this technique is primarily used in teacher education settings. Teacher trainees have the opportunity to enhance their skills before entering the actual classroom teaching environment.
Simulated teaching helps to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical work. At the same time, simulated teaching provides a realistic picture of the actual classroom setting for teacher trainees. Through simulated classroom interactions, trainees and pupils can develop their skills.
What is the Difference Between Micro-teaching and Simulated Teaching?
Both micro-teaching and simulated teaching are used as teaching techniques to develop the skills of teacher trainees. The key difference between micro-teaching and simulated teaching is that micro-teaching is conducted by a teacher trainee for a small group of students or colleagues in front of a mentor, while simulated teaching takes place in a synthetic environment as a role-play.
Furthermore, teacher trainees do not have the chance to play all three roles of teacher, student, and supervisor in micro-teaching, but they can experience all three roles – teacher, student, and supervisor – in simulated teaching. Although micro-teaching provides a real classroom experience, simulated teaching does not offer hands-on experience in an actual classroom setting.
Summary – Micro-teaching vs Simulated Teaching
Both micro-teaching and simulated teaching are used to develop the teaching skills and practices of teacher pupils and teacher trainees. However, the key difference between micro-teaching and simulated teaching is that micro-teaching takes place in an actual classroom setting, whereas simulated teaching occurs in an artificial classroom setting. Additionally, while micro-teaching offers hands-on experience in the real classroom setting, simulated teaching does not provide hands-on experience in the actual classroom environment.
Key Takeaways
- Micro-teaching is a teaching technique that takes place in a real classroom setting, while simulated teaching occurs in a synthetic environment like role-playing.
- Micro-teaching provides teachers with the opportunity to receive feedback on their skills, whereas simulated teaching helps bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical work.
- Micro-teaching offers hands-on experience in the real classroom setting, while simulated teaching does not provide hands-on experience in the actual classroom environment.
Reference:
1. “Micro Teaching – Meaning and Definition.” Teachmint, 22 Oct. 2021.
2. “Simulated Teaching Definition, Characteristics and Assumptions.” Study Lecture Notes, 4 Dec. 2013.
3. “Microteaching: The Teacher Training Technique That Is Practiced Worldwide.” Engage Education, 7 May 2021.
Image Courtesy:1. “Teacher writing on board” By Boca Tutor – Icon Finder– (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
