It's a mini adventure...

...well, two mini adventures, actually; our two, twenty minute 'mini teaches' under the watchful eye of an assessor.

Building on the experience of the micro teaches, it's a chance for us to expand on what we've already practiced, again in front of a friendly 'home crowd' of fellow learners.

The preparation was a little more structured, with timed lesson plans and a rationale to be submitted before each session. We were also allowed to make use of additional presentation formats.

I put a powerpoint presentation together for my first teach; a session on the interaction of visuals and text in advertising communication.

Unfortunately, it decided it wasn't playing half way through.

In retrospect, that was a good thing. It forced me to improvise. And taught me a valuable lesson: when you're relying on technology, always have a back up!

Gratifyingly, the feedback was that I had coped very well. Again, the advantage of knowing your subject and being prepared.

Only downside? Time management. I overran by six minutes on on the first session, two minutes on the second. (Although, the second session felt like it flew by. I was convinced it was a quarter of an hour and no more. What is they say time does when you're having fun?)

It was good to see how other students approached their subjects. And as the groups had been shaken up since the micro teaches, we had a broad cross section of styles, subjects and approaches to learn from.

As an exercise, it's been invaluable. I feel, as does everyone else, we've progressed a lot as a result of these sessions.

And just as importantly, they've given me invaluable confidence and additional professional technique to bring to my 'real life' teaching.