Skill Of Blackboard Writing In Microteaching

Skills Of Microteaching

There are various skills that can be developed through the microteaching technique. This is done one skill at a time and may include one of the following:

Introduction skill

Skill of probing questions

Skill of explanation

Skill of stimulus variation

Skill of blackboard writing

Skill of achieving closure

The focus of this article will be the black board skill. But before we delve into the details of blackboard skill in microteaching, it’s important to understand the importance of the black board skill.

Blackboard Skill In Microteaching

In the case of the microteaching blackboard skill, a short topic is chosen, ordinarily one that will fully demonstrate the black board skill (for example, types of triangles). A short lesson plan is then made on the topic and it’s taught to a small classroom of peers role-playing as students for a duration of 7-10 minutes. Upon demonstrating the black board skill, feedback is taken from the mock classroom and supervisor and re-demonstrated, incorporating the feedback received. This cycle of feedback and re-teaching continues until the black board skill has been fully mastered.

Blackboard skill in microteaching provides clearness of perception and reinforces what’s being taught via proper visual presentation, through diagrams, notes, calculations or other similar exercises. Blackboard teaching skills in microteaching is made up of eight components. Let’s take a detailed look at each of these components of microteaching blackboard skills.

Components Of Skill Of Blackboard Writing

The skill of blackboard writing adds variety to a lesson and draws the learner’s attention toward the key concepts being taught. To achieve this objective, it’s important to understand and implement each of the skill components of the blackboard skill in microteaching.

S. No.

Component of skill of blackboard writing

Description

Purpose

Legibility

The writing on a blackboard must be clear, with adequate spacing between the letters and a clear distinction between words and sentences.
The writing must not be difficult to read or comprehend and should be legible.

To grasp the students’ attention.
To avoid miscommunication and confusion.
To encourage the students to develop good handwriting.

Size And Alignment

The size of the writing should be such that it’s visible to the very last row of students.
It should be large enough to be comfortably seen.
Capital letters must be larger than small letters and as nearly vertical as possible, without diverging from a line.

The writing must be comprehensible.
Uniformity in the size of capital letters or small letters makes it easier for students to understand the material at a glance.

Highlighting The Main Points

The important points or aspects of a lesson must be highlighted such that they’re easily identifiable.
This can be done using different colored chalks or by underlining.
It’s also important to not overuse different colors or highlight excessively.

Emphasizing the main points via highlighting allows for better and immediate retention.
Highlighting also reinforces the main points of lessons and draws the students’ attention to these main points.

Utilization Of Space

Only relevant points and materials should be noted on a blackboard.
Overcrowding a blackboard with unnecessary jargon should be avoided.

Proper utilization of blackboard space will allow for a tidy board.
Mentioning the relevant points will focus the attention of the students to those points, and the material will be better retained.

Blackboard Summary

At the end of a lesson, a blackboard summary should be added, which identifies the salient and important parts of the lesson.
Brevity and simplicity are encouraged when it comes to the blackboard summary.

Summarizing the main points of the lesson upon completion will enable the learner to recollect what has been taught easily.

Correctness

Use correct spelling, grammar and punctuation while writing on a blackboard.
Balance the need to be concise and to the point with the use of proper English.

Incorrect language, spelling, and grammar reduce the learner’s attention toward the lesson.
Incorrect punctuation may also cause confusion among learners.

Position Of A Teacher

A teacher must remain at an angle of 45 degrees from the blackboard.
A teacher shouldn’t stand in the center of the blackboard or cover it.

Visibility of the blackboard is important.
Standing at an angle of 45 degrees toward the side of the blackboard will allow for both visibility and maintaining eye contact with learners.

Eye Contact With Pupils

Eye contact must be maintained with learners during the lesson and as much as possible while writing on the blackboard.

Maintains discipline
Sustains attention.
Controls interaction.

It’s also a best practice to erase the writings on a blackboard once a lesson is complete because doing so keeps it ready for reuse and sets a good example for learners to do so as well.

Conclusion

Microteaching promotes real-time teaching experience and constructive peer-to-peer feedback. It serves as a vehicle for continuous training for both inexperienced and senior teachers.

Proper utilization of blackboard writing in microteaching will draw and retain the learners’ attention, allowing for a better and more holistic comprehension of the subject being taught and its retention. This makes it possible for learners to recall what has been taught.

Harappa offers a wide range of techniques and guidance to those looking to improve their teaching skills. Visit our website to find the area you want to work on. Harappa’s Inspiring Faculty Program nurtures the skills needed for micro-teaching and adapting to the ever-evolving needs of the modern classroom. Take advantage of the different micro- and macro-teaching approaches that makes instruction effective and learning fruitful.

S. No.	Component of skill of blackboard writing	Description	Purpose
1.	Legibility	The writing on a blackboard must be clear, with adequate spacing between the letters and a clear distinction between words and sentences. The writing must not be difficult to read or comprehend and should be legible.	To grasp the students’ attention. To avoid miscommunication and confusion. To encourage the students to develop good handwriting.
2.	Size And Alignment	The size of the writing should be such that it’s visible to the very last row of students. It should be large enough to be comfortably seen. Capital letters must be larger than small letters and as nearly vertical as possible, without diverging from a line.	The writing must be comprehensible. Uniformity in the size of capital letters or small letters makes it easier for students to understand the material at a glance.
3.	Highlighting The Main Points	The important points or aspects of a lesson must be highlighted such that they’re easily identifiable. This can be done using different colored chalks or by underlining. It’s also important to not overuse different colors or highlight excessively.	Emphasizing the main points via highlighting allows for better and immediate retention. Highlighting also reinforces the main points of lessons and draws the students’ attention to these main points.
4.	Utilization Of Space	Only relevant points and materials should be noted on a blackboard. Overcrowding a blackboard with unnecessary jargon should be avoided.	Proper utilization of blackboard space will allow for a tidy board. Mentioning the relevant points will focus the attention of the students to those points, and the material will be better retained.
5.	Blackboard Summary	At the end of a lesson, a blackboard summary should be added, which identifies the salient and important parts of the lesson. Brevity and simplicity are encouraged when it comes to the blackboard summary.	Summarizing the main points of the lesson upon completion will enable the learner to recollect what has been taught easily.
6.	Correctness	Use correct spelling, grammar and punctuation while writing on a blackboard. Balance the need to be concise and to the point with the use of proper English.	Incorrect language, spelling, and grammar reduce the learner’s attention toward the lesson. Incorrect punctuation may also cause confusion among learners.
7.	Position Of A Teacher	A teacher must remain at an angle of 45 degrees from the blackboard. A teacher shouldn’t stand in the center of the blackboard or cover it.	Visibility of the blackboard is important. Standing at an angle of 45 degrees toward the side of the blackboard will allow for both visibility and maintaining eye contact with learners.
8.	Eye Contact With Pupils	Eye contact must be maintained with learners during the lesson and as much as possible while writing on the blackboard.	Maintains discipline Sustains attention. Controls interaction.