RELFECTION BLOG

MEET KAGISO MOKGOBO MALOA

An aspiring intermediate phase teacher. I am passionate about education and committed to shaping young minds through meaningful and engaging learning experiences. With a background in both classroom teaching and service-learning, I aim to create a positive and lasting impact on my learners' educational journeys. My teaching philosophy revolves around fostering curiosity, collaboration, and critical thinking, helping learners grow academically and personally.

LIFE OF A TEACHER

I recently completed three days in the “life of a teacher,” and it gave me a true sense of what it takes to manage a classroom and fulfill the responsibilities of a teacher. These three days were intense but rewarding, and they made me reflect on my readiness to enter the teaching profession.

Managing "Life of a Teacher"

Managing the responsibilities of a teacher over these three days required careful planning. I created detailed lesson plans and schedules to ensure that I stayed on top of everything. Although it was overwhelming at times, I learned to prioritize tasks and remain calm under pressure.

Comparing Block 1 and Block 2

When I compare Block 1 to Block 2, I can see how much I’ve grown. During Block 1, I was more nervous and unsure of myself, but by Block 2, I had gained confidence in managing the classroom. I felt more comfortable with the learners and more capable of delivering lessons that captured their attention.

Overcoming Challenges

The most challenging aspect was time management. I often found myself rushing to complete all the activities within the allocated time. However, by the second day, I adjusted my approach and made sure to stick closely to my schedule, which helped me manage the class more effectively.

Self-Evaluation and Readiness

After completing my self-evaluation survey, I feel much more prepared to enter the profession as a beginner teacher. I have gained the practical skills needed to manage a classroom, develop lesson plans, and engage with students. While there are still areas I need to improve, such as time management, I feel confident and excited to take on the challenges of teaching.

Online Microteaching

I recently had the opportunity to conduct an online microteaching session, and it was an eye-opening experience. I was teaching a Grade 7 Social Sciences lesson on slavery, and despite some technical challenges, the session was successful.

What Went Well

One aspect that went well during my microteaching lesson was the use of a YouTube video to introduce the topic of slavery. This visual aid really helped my fellow classmates understand the lesson better, and I could see how their engagement increased after the video. Including this multimedia element made the historical content more accessible and relatable.

Challenges and Solutions

A major challenge I faced was with my laptop’s microphone. Right before the lesson, I realized that my laptop’s mic wasn’t working, so I had to quickly come up with a solution. I ended up using my laptop to present the lesson, but I recorded my voice using my cellphone. It was a bit tricky to manage both devices at once, but I was able to pull it off. This experience taught me the importance of having backup plans for online teaching.

Meeting Learning Objectives

I feel that the lesson met the learning objectives I set out to achieve. My goal was to provide a clear understanding of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, and judging by the feedback from my peers, I accomplished this. The YouTube video was especially helpful in making the concept more digestible, which aligned perfectly with my objective of enhancing student comprehension through multimedia.

ICT Tools and Future Application

The ICT tools I used during this lesson were a combination of my laptop, cellphone, and a YouTube video. Even though I encountered issues with my laptop, I realized how important it is to be adaptable with technology. Moving forward, I will ensure that my equipment is tested beforehand, and I might consider having a secondary device ready in case of any technical problems.

Peer Feedback and Lesson Improvement

The feedback from my peers was invaluable. They appreciated the use of the YouTube video and suggested that I could integrate more interactive elements in future lessons, such as quizzes or polls. I plan to incorporate these suggestions in my next lesson to make it even more engaging and interactive.

My Social Action Project

For my service-learning project, I worked with a group to implement a recycling initiative at my former school. Although we initially struggled to work well together, the project brought us closer, and we managed to make a positive impact on the school community.

Project Effectiveness

One of the key components of our project was collaborating with a recycling company, which generously donated recycling bins to the school. This initiative made the school environment more eco-friendly and encouraged learners to think more critically about waste management. The effectiveness of the project was clear when we saw how quickly learners adapted to using the bins.

Personal Growth

This project changed me personally in a number of ways. At first, I was frustrated by the difficulties our group faced in working together, but as we progressed, I learned the importance of teamwork and communication. The project helped me develop better leadership and problem-solving skills, and I felt a deeper connection to my community through this experience.

Professional Development

From a professional standpoint, I gained new skills in project management and collaboration. This experience has made me more confident in my ability to work with different stakeholders, from school administrators to external organizations. I also developed a stronger sense of responsibility as a future educator who can inspire positive change in students' lives.

Sustainability and Impact

The recycling bins are still being used at the school, which makes me proud of the sustainability of our project. The school has adopted the initiative, and the learners continue to actively participate in recycling. This experience showed me how small actions can lead to lasting impacts, and I am hopeful that the initiative will continue to benefit the school for years to come.