Video 2 Brief and Comment from Mentor

The teacher discusses their lesson on Redox Reaction and seeks feedback. They reviewed middle school concepts, had peer discussions, used a simulation website, gave lectures, and had quizzes. The teacher feels that the engagement was not satisfactory and wants to improve. The observer praises the teacher's commitment to monitoring progress and use of technology. They suggest modifying the lesson plan to meet each student's needs, creating a dynamic atmosphere, and using interactive activities. They also suggest improving the simulation, making group activities more interactive and comparative, and incorporating interactive teaching strategies. The observer concludes by highlighting the teacher's strengths and encouraging further growth. The teacher appreciates the advice and hopes for improvement in the future. Good afternoon, Ms. Wu. Hey, Sandra. You all observed today's lesson. But I still want to debrief with you what I've done and for more feedback from you. You ready? Yes. Okay. I go first? Yeah. Okay. So, well, actually today I did the topic of Redox Reaction. I think this is like introduction part of this unit. So, in the first place, we review a lot about what they learned in middle school. I used whiteboards so I can realize their misconceptions if they have any. But it took less time than expected. Well, then we have peer discussion on some real-life examples. The students are not very active in this part. So I think maybe next time I should, like, use more strategies to encourage this. And then I give them a simulation website. The simulation website is good to better help them better understand the concept. But if I had more time, I would like to play it on the Mac top. And then we have lectures, like, to extend the conception of Redox Reaction. And then we have quizzes. So I think the quizzes and the discussions are quite effective. However, as you observe, the engagement is not satisfactory. Maybe this is where I can improve next time. Yeah. This is what I did today. So would you like to give me more feedback? Yes. My observation is basically very similar to what you summarized. I wrote up a summary, but I can go over it with you just to ensure that all these are understood. You demonstrated your commitment to monitoring and evaluating student progress regularly in the classroom. You analyzed the progress and made the necessary adjustments to meet the specific needs. You are taking important steps towards fostering student growth and development. Furthermore, your utilization of technology tools, such as slides, online quizzes, and simulations, is very effective. These tools not only enhance the learning experience, but also facilitate student engagement and interaction. Your integration of technology showcases your ability to adapt to modern teaching methods. It is evident that you are dedicated to supporting ESL students in their language learning journey. Occasionally you use Chinese into your instruction and you provide vocabulary lists. You are creating a more inclusive and supportive learning environment. This approach helps the ESL students feel acknowledged and provides them with necessary tools to enhance their language skills. Your discussion sessions are not very active, as you said. I think you can consider meeting the unique needs of each student in the discussion by modifying your lesson plan. This way you can ensure that they are appropriate to each student and they are challenging enough for the gifted students. Creating a dynamic atmosphere in the classroom is essential. Your efforts in this area are noticeable, but we can improve it. You can consider exploring further strategies to enhance the classroom environment, such as incorporating more interactive and hands-on activities. By using diverse teaching methodologies, you can create a more vibrant and stimulating atmosphere for students. The student's engagement is generally present. As we said, we can still improve it. We can consider motivating students to participate more actively. We can use various methods. I encourage you to explore additional strategies and techniques. This may include incorporating games, real-world examples, or personalized learning approaches. By seeking new ways to engage students, you will foster a classroom environment that is lively, dynamic, and more conductive. In regards to the simulation activity, you think it's less effective. However, with some improvement, it has the potential to become a valuable teaching tool. You can consider refining the simulation and ensure that all aspects of the simulation are well executed and clearly presented. Then you can maximize its impact and enhance the student's learning experience. To make your group activities more effective, you can make them more interactive and comparative. You can encourage the students to actively participate in discussions, debates, or problem-solving tasks. You can provide opportunities for them to compare and contrast their ideas, perspectives, or solutions. By incorporating these elements, you can deepen their critical thinking skills and facilitate meaningful peer-to-peer interactions. One more thing you can think of is that the instruction provided during the demonstration can also be improved to promote a more interactive and structured learning experience. You can consider incorporating interactive teaching strategies that can involve the students more actively in this process. To ensure your instructions are clear, concise, and well-structured, you can create a more solid instructional framework. Then you can enhance your student comprehension and facilitate effective learning. To summarize, I think that your teaching demonstration displayed several strengths, including your commitment to monitoring progress, integration of technology tools, and your support for ESL students. You also implemented group discussions. However, there are areas that can be improved to make the learning experience even more effective. By making these adjustments to the content, classroom atmosphere, and student engagement strategies, we can make the classroom more lively and we can create a better learning environment. If you can continue to grow as an effective educator, then you'll create a more enriching educational experience. Okay, thank you, Ms. Wu. These are very helpful advices. I will take them, and then hopefully next time when you observe my class, I can get some improvement. Thank you so much. You're very welcome. Hopefully it helps. Okay, thank you so much.