10 ideas for face-to-face, live online or hybrid teacher training Melia-Leigh & Northall, 2021

Teacher training interactive talk activities

1. Aims of the interactive talk

Read the sentences below and complete the gaps.

By the end of this session, you will have …

 recapped and 1__________ good practice.
 taken part in a range of 2______________ and 3______________ activities.
 considered ideas which can be adapted in different 4______________.

Answers: 1. shared 2. practical 3. communicative 4. contexts

Tip: Be explicit!

2. The beginning …

Read the four statements. Rank them from the sentence you agree with most to the sentence
you agree with least.

A. I am looking forward to developing my online training skills.

B. I am confident about training online.
C. I think there are a lot of similarities between training online and face to face.
D. I am nervous about training online.

For example: D, A, C, B

Tip: Find out about the teachers you are working with!

3. Planning workshops

Think about the planning stage of a workshop or input session for teachers or trainee
teachers. Regardless of mode …

What do you think makes an effective workshop?

For example: ‘research the area thoroughly’

Suggested answers: Have clear aims; Include tasks which achieve the workshop’s aims; Have a contingency
plan for if the technology fails; Ensure it is achievable and accessible; Have a takeaway
10 ideas for face-to-face, live online or hybrid teacher training Melia-Leigh & Northall, 2021

4. Delivering workshops

Now think about delivering a workshop or input session for teachers or trainee teachers,
either online or face to face.
Rearrange the letters to make some features of a successful workshop.

1. airy vet
2. bill exit fyi
3. mingle old
4. centre foil
5. fled pip

For example: 1 = variety

Answers: 1. variety 2. flexibility 3. modelling 4. reflection 5. flipped

5. Support with lesson planning

Look at the pictures below. What does each one represent?

1. 2.

3. 4.

5. 6.

Answers: 1. deadlines/amount of support 2. a lesson plan template 3. collaboration 4. model lesson plans
5. supervised lesson planning, forums or Q&A 6. rehearsal time
10 ideas for face-to-face, live online or hybrid teacher training Melia-Leigh & Northall, 2021

6. Observations

The words on the right are all associated with successful observations, but they have had their
vowels removed. Can you guess what they are?

1. prps
2. fcs
3. pln
4. pstvty
5. lrnrs
6. wtch

For example: 1 = purpose

Answers: 1. purpose 2. focus 3. plan 4. positivity 5. learners 6. watch

7. Lesson feedback

The following sentences give advice about giving feedback after observing a lesson. However,
they are not in the correct order.

Look at the words in 1–4 below, then rearrange the words to form four meaningful sentences.
You have three minutes.

1. to record written a back feedback provides can useful which refer teachers
2. requires people discussion excellent the skills post-lesson
3. on feedback approach the observation your depends of purpose the chosen
4. feedback activities add your techniques variety and different to

1. Written feedback provides a useful record which teachers can refer back to.

Answers: 1. Written feedback provides a useful record which teachers can refer back to. 2. The post-lesson
discussion requires excellent people skills. 3. Your chosen feedback approach depends on the purpose of the
observation. 4. Different activities and techniques add variety to your feedback.
10 ideas for face-to-face, live online or hybrid teacher training Melia-Leigh & Northall, 2021

8. Peer observation

1. Choose the statement about peer observation you most agree with.
a) Peer observation is a useful developmental tool.
b) Peer observation is a necessary evil on accredited courses.
c) I never encourage peer observation.

2. Choose the statement about peer observation tasks you most agree with.
a) Structured per observation tasks should always be provided.
b) Observation tasks are a waste of time.
c) Some form of observation task is useful.

9. Your training context

Listen to the short lecture (in the recording of the interactive talk) about different aspects of
teacher training.

As you listen make a note of one or two ideas which you feel are relevant to your context.

10. Reflection

Think back to the interactive talk you have just heard and participated in. Make a note of:

3 training ideas you’ll take away with you.

2 practical activities you want to try with the teachers you work with.

1 question you still have.

Tip: Reflection and feedback are the key to development!