4 steps for an effective practical training lesson

17.03.2020

An industrial electrics teacher is being taught in 4-step method how to change a hacksaw blade

All the participants are discussing their experience during the development and implementation of a 4-step teaching session

All the participants are exchanging their lessons learnt and experience in developing and conducting a 4-step teaching session.

15 teachers of Electrics-Electronics and Mechanics Departments are attending theoretical session on 4-step teaching method

On February 28^th and March 6^th, 2020, 15 teachers from two departments of Mechanics and Electrics in Long An Vocational College attended a training on 4-step teaching method under the Programme “Reform of Technical Vocational Education and Training in Viet Nam”. The training included a theoretical session and a practical one.

On the first day, the participants were provided with foundation knowledge which consisted of psychological theories on human learning, an overview of 4-step method, as well as an approach of curriculum analysis and teaching plan development. After the first session, the participants had one week to apply the learnt knowledge to develop a lesson plan for a practical training session according to the 4-step method.

On the second day, the participants micro-teach their practical session in groups of three. Each member of each group took turn to play the role of a teacher, a student and an observer, in which the teacher had to use their teaching plan according to the 4-step method to provide the student with guidance on how to conduct a simple technical task. The session gave the participants the opportunity to apply what they have learnt from the previous session in a very specific teaching situation.

The training ended up with the discussion session on challenges and solutions that the participants faced during the preparation and implementation of their teaching sessions, followed by the suggestions for next teaching method trainings. The session also provided the participants with lessons learnt and ideas to further enhance their pedagogical skills. Ms. Vo Thi Xuan Dao, teacher from Electrics-Electronics Department said: “Thanks to the training, especially the practical session, I had a chance to experience what my students go through in a practical training lesson. And the perspective helps me realize what should be done while teaching to maximize my students’ learning, especially by using 4-step teaching method.”

Long An Vocational College is supported by the Vietnamese-German Programme “Reform of TVET in Viet Nam” in developing into a high-quality TVET institute. The programme is financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) together with the Vietnamese Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA).