Teaching a Demo Lesson During a Teacher Job Interview

As a teacher seeking to get a job in a new institution, you have to be at your best to impress the interview panel. In these hard times of layoffs and budget cuts, the competition is fierce; to be the one chosen, you need to have something extra to propel you forward. The fact that you’ve been called for the interview means that you are suitably qualified but they now want to see you perform… backing your resume with action in the form of a demo lesson plan.

Now the first thing to think about is that you are going to be working with people in different categories – students, teachers like yourself, the institution, management, staff, etc. So whatever you are planning to teach at the demonstration session must be flexible enough to be able to accommodate any or all of these groups. This is crucial because you never can tell of whom the committee of interviewers will be composed.

Next is to identify your strongest point. Your aim is to catch their attention and keep them engaged throughout the demo session; so choose one of your best lessons and go over and over it until every single detail of it is well prepared. Go over possible questions that might pop up and make sure you have ready answers. Plan your lesson accordingly and make it as brief as possible so you leave more room for questions and answers.

There are several ways of making this kind of presentation and one of the most popular is using a PowerPoint presentation. This method puts you in front of the pack as a teacher that really knows what he/she is doing in terms of presenting information and using technology. Organize your slides properly and make your timing perfect. You should practice the sequence over and over before the interview. However, have a backup plan just in case the equipment fails to work or there is a power failure.  Use advanced teaching techniques including interactive and didactic teaching methods to keep your audience engaged and the session lively.

Other than the teaching presentation format, you might be asked to do a research presentation; this is more common for teachers seeking jobs in colleges and universities. If this is the case, only choose a small section from your own dissertation and go over it prior to the interview day. As stated above, be ready for any questions that will be thrown at you (this will certainly happen). Your reading must be clear, audible, and straight to the point while you also make references to your conclusion and how you arrived at them.

A demo lesson during a teaching job interview is a fantastic way to separate yourself from the crowd; it offers you the opportunity to prove that you earned your resume and are the right person to fill the vacant position. On the whole, it all boils down to proper planning from your end.