Developing Micro-Teaching with a Focus on Core Practices: The Use of Approximations of Practice

Abstract

Micro-teaching as a pedagogical approach is practiced in many higher education programmes focused on building knowledge, understanding, skills and attitudes that can be applied in a professional setting. The previous literature attests to the usefulness of micro-teaching experiences in supporting the development of the beginning professional. This paper describes the design and implementation of a micro-teaching programme in one teacher preparation programme with a dual focus on core practices and Approximation of Practice (AoP). AoPs, in this instance, are defined as opportunities to engage in core practices that are proximal to the practices of a particular profession. The paper begins by exploring practice-based education, focusing on core practices and approximations of practice. Micro-teaching as a pedagogical approach is briefly introduced before describing the design and implementation of a specific enactment of pedagogy, a micro-teaching programme using core practices and AoPs. Opportunities and challenges of designing and implementing the micro-teaching programme are discussed and problematised. Finally, some practice considerations are offered to the broader higher education audience regarding the use of AoPs in higher education in the preparation of beginning professionals.