Effect of Microteaching on Performance of Medical Teachers in Classroom by Self-Evaluation

Abstract

Background: Since teaching is a profession that requires specialized knowledge and skills, teacher candidates, to perform their jobs, should possess certain competencies. According to some authors teaching competency includes knowledge, attitude, skill, and other teaching characteristics. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of microteaching on the performance of medical teachers in the classroom by self-evaluation of medical teachers. Methods: This one-sample quasi-experimental study was conducted from July 2016 to June 2017, in four government medical colleges—Dhaka Medical College, Sir Salimullah Medical College, Rajshahi Medical College, and Jessore Medical College—and one medical university, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University in Dhaka. The study subjects were 31 selected medical teachers who participated using mixed sampling techniques—convenience sampling for institute selection. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23.0, with both descriptive and inferential statistics, including paired and independent t-tests. Results: Before microteaching studied teachers' performance was poor in all items whereas after microteaching their performance improved significantly regarding preparing lesson plans, presenting the objectives, gaining and maintaining attention, activating pre-requisite knowledge, explaining the purpose of the class, content coverage, preparation and confidence, qualities of presentation, selection of using teaching aid(s), instructional materials, observing the students participation, checking students understanding, the psychological aspect of the students, and summarizing & emphasizing important point. Conclusion: Microteaching has a significantly positive effect on the performance of medical teachers in the classroom. It plays a vital role in the improvement of teaching skills such as preparing lesson plan, mentioning objectives at the beginning of the class, gaining and maintaining the attention of the students, activating pre-requisite knowledge of the students, explaining the purpose of the class, classroom management, observing the students' participation by the teacher, etc. Microteaching is a very effective and innovative technique for improving teachers' quality of their presentation and teaching ability.