What is “microteaching”?

(…) Invented in the mid-1960s at Stanford University by Dr. Dwight W. Allen, micro-teaching has been used with success for several decades now, as a way to help teachers acquire new skills. (…) Micro lessons are great opportunities to present sample “snapshots” of what/how you teach and to get some feedback from colleagues about how… Continue reading What is “microteaching”?

An Exercise: Patterns

Shared by Graham Bell, from a recent PDC Handbook. Why are patterns important? They are easy to remember. They are portable and so can be used anywhere. They are universal so they fit changing circumstances. They are strong because they bind their elements together (‘geodesic strength’, tesselation). Patterns can be physical, behavioural or structural.

Micro-teach session: Abundance games

This post describes how to teach a game called “Resource Line” (and is a summary of a micro teach session with Mirka by Andrew Zionts at the Barcelona meeting). The lesson plan is as follows: Aims: To discover more about each other’s knowledge and skills. To create more beneficial connections between participants. To explore the… Continue reading Micro-teach session: Abundance games

A Book Review Exercise: “A Selection of Wise Words”

by Joel Rosenberg Context:  I’ve used this method with master level art & design & architecture students when running an intensive one week workshop called “Foraging and Gardening in the City” in Helsinki, Finland 2011-2013. This method can be used on a PDC too. Duration:  Part I. 30min. + Part II. 5min./student (12 students =… Continue reading A Book Review Exercise: “A Selection of Wise Words”

Introducing How to Teach Patterns with Kirsty

(Note: This session would be best to give early in a PDC. The session plan for this session can be found at the bottom under “Resources”) Time needed:  Best as a one-hour session, possibly longer. It can be flexible to fit the time available. Introduce the topic of patterns to the class and state why… Continue reading Introducing How to Teach Patterns with Kirsty

Introducing How to Teach Inputs & Outputs with Joe Atkinson

P108 in the Permaculture Teachers Guide has a full class plan for this exercise. Time needed: Best as a one-hour session, possibly longer. It can be flexible to fit the time available. This activity can sit in different sessions. This is usually one of the first sessions on a PDC. Good to use to introduce… Continue reading Introducing How to Teach Inputs & Outputs with Joe Atkinson

Teaching Tool: How to Create a Session Plan

Cathrine Dolleris presented how to create a session plan on the 25th of September 2013 in Mas Franch. The session presents learning outcomes and planning of your session as a tool to become a more confident teacher.  Notes from the session are coming soon. A video from this session follows:

Sample Session: Permaculture Ethics

Given on Wed 25 Sept 2013 by Joe Atkinson, UK, at Mas Franch, Spain A french write-up of this workshop is also live. Opening question: The teacher asks if the students know the ethics of permaculture, and if they can explain what they mean for them. Afterwards, the teacher summarises the main points, and can… Continue reading Sample Session: Permaculture Ethics

A Teaching Method: Groups

Aljaz from Slovenia delivered a micro-teaching session on Wed 25 Sept 2013 at Mas Franch during the Spain EPT Meeting to demonstrate and reflect upon ‘Groups’ as a teaching methodology. INTRODUCTION The session opens with the following question: How do you feel about working in groups? Some possible responses could be: Can be very inspiring… Continue reading A Teaching Method: Groups