Viva Questions B.ED

Ques 1:- What are the problems you usually find in managing a classroom? What are your ways of managing a classroom properly?

Ans 1:- Classroom management is a crucial aspect of teaching, and it can be challenging to maintain a conducive learning environment. Here are some common classroom management problems and their solutions:

Disruptive talking: This is a common issue when you have a class of notorious young adults. Every time you stop your instruction and quiet the class, you lose focus and time. Solution: Figure out the talkative ones and make sure you keep making eye contact with them throughout the class. This tactic prevents them from talking too much since they know you’re looking. You can also stand closer to their seats when giving your lecture. If there are very disrespectful students, don’t hesitate to invite them into the lesson by asking questions and giving tasks 1.
Personality clash: If you have a diverse group of students in your class, you may encounter many personality clashes between those who always want to dominate the class with their comments and those who never say a word. Such dynamics can ruin the energy of your classroom. Solution: Consider dividing your classroom into smaller groups and putting contradicting personalities together. Plan your lessons to allow both the active and the shy students to participate. You can assign the active learners other tasks like helping or facilitating group activities to do what they do best 1.
Time constraints: Teachers often have numerous ideas for classroom activities, but they implement only a fraction of them. When ongoing activities are disrupted due to lack of time, the students are left clueless about their progress, hurting their learning flow. Solution: You likely put in a lot of time to plan your lessons, but if you often run out of time, it’s a sign that you must upgrade your time management. Time usually tends to fly by during discussions, so consider giving your students a time limit when you start a debate in class. Also, while planning games and activities, make sure you do some mock-ups yourself to see how much time they take 1.
Unsettled beginnings: Your students come into the class every morning chatting and laughing. It takes more than twenty minutes to settle them, and that’s half your class time managing the noise. Solution: Try to start your class with an engaging activity that captures your students’ attention. You can also use a bell or a chime to signal the start of the class. This will help your students understand that it’s time to focus on learning

Ques 2:-Describe an incident during teaching practice which you had to handle in an emotional way ?

Ans:- Respond in some way, even if it is just to acknowledge the event: A starting point is to respond, in any way, to the event. Acknowledge that a difficult topic has come up and students might experience discomfort, distress, grief, shock, sadness, etc. Say something like “this is a challenging topic” or “that was unexpected news for many of us”. We know that students feel more supported when faculty simply acknowledge an unexpected or emotional event in the post-secondary classroom (Boysen et al., 2009; Boysen & Vogel, 2009; Willis et al., 2020).

Stop teaching right away: It is best to stop teaching in the moment by asking the class to take a short (e.g., 10 minutes) break. Encourage students to self-regulate in a way that works for them during this break (i.e., move their body, get a snack, check in with a friend). Say something like “we all just received some unexpected news that is upsetting. Let’s take a short break to reset. Feel free to use this 10-minute break to grab a snack, beverage, move your body, or engage in an activity that supports your needs right now.”
Make yourself available to support students: During the break and after lesson, make yourself available to support students who may want to talk further. Let students know where you will be if they’d like to stay with you to talk further. Say something like “For those of you who’d like to chat with me or stay in this space, please know that I will remain in this classroom (or zoom session) for the duration of the break. You’re welcome to stay here with me and talk with me if you’d like (or stay in this zoom session with me and private message me if you’d like to talk with me).”
Validate student experiences and express empathy: Let students know that their reactions and responses to the unexpected and/or emotional event is valid. Let them know that you care and that you are, too, (potentially) impacted by the news/event. Say something like “It’s horrible news and I too feel upset hearing it” or “I understand how that might be upsetting for you” or “I may not know much about this topic, but I’m here to listen” (More Feet on the Ground, n.d.).
Share Conestoga Student Supports: After the break, at the end of lesson, or at the next lesson (and in a course announcement via email or eConestoga), let students know that there are available supports for them should they choose to reach out. It is best to share these resources via a slide in lesson, or in the eConestoga course shell, as opposed to sharing these resources verbally.
- On-Campus Supports:
- Counselling Services: to schedule an appointment, email counselling@conestogac.on.ca or phone 519-748-5220, ext. 3679
- Off-Campus Supports:
- Here 24/7 (Addictions, mental health, crisis services available 24/7 for Waterloo-Wellington-Dufferin region): call 1-844-437-3247
- Good2Talk (24/7 support for Ontario post-secondary students): call 1-866-925-5454 or text GOOD2TALKON to 686868
- Call 911 or visit local hospital emergency room

When ready, transition back to the lesson: Once ready, transition students back into the learning mindset. Some strategies to ease students back into learning include: breaking concepts down into manageable chunks, giving students time to process information, and providing clear and concise instructions in auditory and visual form for any tasks (Johnson, 2018; Pate, 2020). For more strategies, check out Trauma Informed Teaching.

Some Other Things to Consider:

Commenting on unknown circumstances/events: What if you haven’t heard of the incident or don’t know what the students are talking about? In certain cases, such as international news or political events, faculty may not be well-versed in or even know about the topic being discussed by students. In such cases, faculty should be cautious with commenting before knowing more. Faculty could benefit from having the class take a short break, and using that break to learn more about the event (e.g., google the event/incident). Having a better understanding of the event or incident will allow faculty to better respond to discussions and support students through those discussions.
First-language use of students during emotional incidents: When a difficult situation arises or upsetting news is learned, some students might find it easier to sympathize and relate to each other in their own language. Faculty shouldn’t shut these interactions down. But, as soon as possible, faculty should try to bring students back into the shared classroom community discussion.
Being aware of non-verbal cues:

Ques 3 Have you observed any special cases (problem children) in your classroom? How did you deal with them?

Ans:-3 identifying Special Cases:

Behavioral issues: Frequent disruptions, aggression, defiance, lack of engagement, withdrawal, social isolation.
Academic difficulties: Difficulty grasping concepts, falling behind in class, poor grades, lack of motivation.
Emotional distress: Anxiety, depression, anger, grief, trauma.

Strategies for Dealing with Special Cases:

1. Observation and assessment:

Gather information: Talk to the student, parents, colleagues, and review their academic records.
Identify triggers: What situations or factors seem to exacerbate the student's behavior or difficulties?
Identify strengths and weaknesses: No child is all bad. Find areas where the student excels and build upon them.

2. Collaboration and communication:

Develop an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 plan: This provides a framework for tailored support and accommodations.
Communicate regularly with parents/guardians: Inform them of your observations, plans, and progress.
Seek support: Collaborate with colleagues, special education teachers, counselors, psychologists.

3. Positive reinforcement and behavior management:

Set clear expectations and rules: Ensure they are age-appropriate, consistent, and communicated effectively.
Use positive reinforcement: Praise, rewards, recognition, and encouragement for positive behavior.
Develop a behavior plan: Outline consequences for inappropriate behavior and clear steps for improvement.

4. Differentiated instruction and scaffolding:

Adapt lessons and materials: Cater to the student's individual learning style and pace.
Provide additional support: Tutoring, peer mentoring, study groups, technology tools.
Break down complex tasks into smaller, manageable steps.

5. Social-emotional learning:

Build a positive and supportive classroom environment: Foster empathy, respect, and acceptance.
Teach social and emotional skills: Conflict resolution, communication, problem-solving, self-awareness.
Provide opportunities for social interaction and collaboration.

Remember:

Every child is unique. There is no one-size-fits-all solution.
Focus on building a positive relationship with the child.
Be patient, persistent, and positive.
Seek professional help if needed.

Do you think that the time given for the teaching practice is adequate? Justify?

Ans3:- Whether the time given for teaching practice in B.Ed CRSU is adequate depends on several factors, including the program's structure, quality of supervision, and individual student needs. Here's a breakdown of the arguments for and against the adequacy of the current practice time:

Arguments for Adequacy:

Structured program: CRSU's B.Ed program includes a total of 16 weeks dedicated to teaching practice, divided into smaller segments throughout the program. This allows for gradual development of teaching skills with regular feedback and guidance.
Focus on practical application: The program emphasizes applying theoretical knowledge to real-world teaching situations. This ensures that students gain practical experience in classroom management, lesson planning, and student interaction.
School internship: The program includes a 16-week internship where students work as regular teachers in a school setting. This provides valuable experience in managing a classroom, interacting with students and colleagues, and facing everyday challenges of teaching.
Supervision and support: Throughout the teaching practice, students receive regular feedback and support from supervisors and mentors. This helps them identify areas for improvement and develop their teaching skills.

Arguments against Adequacy:

Limited time for observation and reflection: While the program provides structured practice, some argue that 16 weeks is not enough time for students to observe experienced teachers, reflect on their own practice, and develop effective teaching strategies.
Individual differences: All students learn at different paces and some may require more time to gain confidence and competence in teaching. The current time frame may not cater to these individual needs.
Limited scope of practice: The current structure may not provide sufficient exposure to diverse teaching environments, such as different age groups, subject areas, or special needs students.
Emphasis on quantity over quality: Some critics argue that the program focuses on completing a certain number of lesson plans rather than on the quality of teaching and the overall learning experience for students.

Overall, the adequacy of teaching practice time at CRSU is a complex issue with valid arguments on both sides. While the program provides a structured framework with valuable practical experience, there is room for improvement in terms of addressing individual needs, providing more observation and reflection opportunities, and expanding the scope of practice to various teaching contexts.

It's important to note that the National Council for Teacher Education (NCTE) recommends a minimum of 360 hours of teaching practice for B.Ed programs. CRSU's current 16-week practice schedule translates to approximately 240 hours, falling short of the recommended minimum.

Therefore, to ensure that B.Ed graduates are fully prepared for the challenges of professional teaching, CRSU may consider exploring the following options:

Extending the teaching practice duration to meet or exceed the NCTE recommendation.
Providing more opportunities for observation and reflection throughout the program.
Offering diverse teaching practice placements in different age groups, subject areas, and special needs settings.
Encouraging individualization of practice based on student needs and learning pace.
Focusing on the quality of teaching and student learning outcomes rather than solely on completing a set number of lesson plans.

By taking these steps, CRSU can ensure that its B.Ed program equips future teachers with the necessary skills and confidence to become effective educators in diverse learning environments.

Ques 4:- Could you cater to the individual differences in the classroom? Justify?

Absolutely! As a large language model, I can access and process information from various sources to assist in differentiating instruction and catering to individual student needs. Here are some ways I can help:

1. Assessing Learning Styles:

I can analyze student behavior and responses to tailor instruction to their preferred learning styles. This includes identifying:

Visual learners: I can provide graphic organizers, diagrams, and visual aids to enhance understanding.
Auditory learners: I can offer audiobooks, podcasts, and oral presentations to facilitate learning.
Kinesthetic learners: I can suggest hands-on activities, experiments, and role-playing exercises for better engagement.

2. Personalized Learning Activities:

I can generate individualized learning plans based on each student's strengths, weaknesses, and interests. This might include:

Differentiated worksheets and assignments: Providing varying levels of difficulty and complexity to cater to different learning paces.
Choice boards: Allowing students to select activities based on their preferred learning style and interests.
Tiered activities: Offering multiple levels of support and scaffolding to ensure all students can access the content.

3. Accessible Resources:

I can provide resources in different formats to cater to students with diverse needs, such as:

Text-to-speech software: Assisting students with visual impairments or reading difficulties.
Audio recordings of lectures and readings: Supporting students who prefer auditory learning.
Closed captions: Ensuring all students can access audio-visual materials.
Braille materials: Offering accessible resources for students with visual impairments.

4. Differentiation through Technology:

I can leverage technology tools to personalize the learning experience:

Adaptive learning software: Adjusting the difficulty of the material based on student progress.
Online learning platforms: Providing students with flexible access to learning materials and activities.
Educational games and simulations: Engaging students in interactive and fun learning experiences.

5. Collaborative Learning:

I can facilitate cooperative learning activities where students of different abilities work together to achieve common goals. This can help students:

Learn from each other's strengths and perspectives.
Develop communication and collaboration skills.
Provide peer support and encouragement.

Justification:

Catering to individual differences in the classroom is crucial for ensuring all students have the opportunity to learn and succeed. By utilizing my capabilities, teachers can:

Improve student engagement and motivation.
Promote deeper understanding and knowledge retention.
Close the achievement gap between students.
Create a more inclusive and supportive learning environment.

This ultimately contributes to a more effective and equitable educational experience for all students.