Planning and designing our lesson required a lot of work but can be improved. The first activity, in which we requested the students to compare Rainsford and General Zaroff's moral values, consumed more time than anticipated. More orderly planning of this activity can enhance efficiency. However, the time covered in the teaching session was sufficient. Within less than an hour, we were able to successfully impart basic lessons, including moral values and critical thinking discussions as well as the activties. Despite the problems, the session demonstrated that we could utilize our time even more effectively if we planned accordingly.
Overall, I was very satisfied with our micro-teaching activity. We were able to effectively communicate our intended message and lead students towards appreciating the moral dimensions in "The Most Dangerous Game." Our lesson goals were mostly achieved, as students could spot and analyze the opposing positions of peace and justice symbolized by Rainsford and Zaroff. This is directly connected to SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) because the novel enunciates the moral concerns of justice and abuse of power. Zaroff's ideology of justice is distorted in the manner that he adopts a survival-of-the-fittest approach, while Rainsford ultimately deems this kind of justice to be undesirable, emphasizing that ethical thought as well as humanness should be valued.
If I were to be granted a second chance, I would include a more user-friendly and interactive digital device as Google Board did not meet our expectations. Alternatively, with the implementation of Canva or any other user-friendly websites, promoting more student engagement could be made easier. Furthermore, including SDG elements more deeply into our lesson plan would enhance the integration of the content with sustainability principles. For example, clearly explaining how the misuse of power (such as in the actions of General Zaroff) reflects injustices in the real world would enrich students' learning about sustainable peace and robust institutions.
One of the strongest aspects of our lesson was that it aligned well with SDG 16. "The Most Dangerous Game" lends itself to discussion on justice, morality, and institutional accountability naturally. Also, the suspenseness in the story kept students engaged, therefore a brighter lesson. One aspect, though, that could be improved upon is instilling sustainable thinking. The lessons, in the future, can motivate students to examine how justice operates in the current world and propose solutions that are acceptable in enforcing equity and justice. This may be done via debate on subjects of global justice, ethics during war, as well as violation of human rights.
The morning session had an effect on first-time engagement among students. The initial verbal response was less than enthusiastic as expected. However, as the lesson progressed, the students were more engaged. The non-verbal cues in terms of nodding their heads in agreement and full participation in classroom discussions indicated increasing engagement. The response requires an even stronger hook at the beginning of the lesson to get the students involved straight away. Incorporating more interactive elements, such as short video clips or real case studies, might engage the participants during the session.
Reflecting on the session, I realize that there is a need to improve classroom management and sustain participation. Although the experience was positive, improving our time management skills and making matters of sustainability more real would make us effective teachers. This lesson reinforced the importance of relating literature to matters in the world and had the students critically analyzing justice and morality in different situations. From the pedagogical point of view, this assignment has reaffirmed even more the importance of good lesson planning and responsible student interaction. In the future, I will be particularly vigilant to embed sustainability ideas more overtly within my teaching so that students will appreciate their role in creating a just and peaceful world.