MODULE 3 - SKILL OF STIMULUS VARIATION

SKILL OF STIMULUS VARIATION

Prologue

          Teaching skills have been defined differently by different authors. The teaching skill is specific instructional activities and procedures that a teacher may use in his classroom. This module is discussed in detail about skill of stimulus variation. Particularly this module deals about the skill of explaining and its components. The skill of stimulus variation can be defined as deliberate change in the attention drawing behaviours of the teacher in order to secure and sustain pupil’s attention towards the lesson.

Objectives

          On successful completion of the module, you will be able to:

Ø  Discuss the meaning of skill of stimulus variation;

Ø  State the components of skill of stimulus variation;

Ø  appreciate the meaning of skill of stimulus variation;

Ø  Acquires the knowledge of skill of stimulus variation;

Ø  Grasp the microteaching process and its significance.

SKILL OF STIMULUS VARIATION

            It is very important for a teacher to ensure and sustain pupil’s attention. For this purpose the teacher uses some gestures, body movements, makes certain verbal statements etc. all these behaviours are related to stimulus variation. The skill of stimulus variation can be defined as deliberate change in the attention drawing behaviours of the teacher in order to secure and sustain pupil’s attention towards the lesson.

Components and Description of Skill of Stimulus Variation

S.No.	Components	Description of Behaviour
1	Teacher movement	Ø  Movement of the teacher from one spot to another with a specific purpose. Eg. Moves to the blackboard to write something on the board. Moves towards the back of the classroom to check what the students are doing. Ø  Purposeful movement of the teacher from one spot to another
2	Teacher gesture	Ø  Gestures, body movements and facial expressions to direct attention, to emphasize importance, to explain emotions, to indicate size, shapes etc. Ø  Nonverbal cues like body movements, facial expressions etc.
3	Change in sensory focus	Ø  Focusing pupils attention on particular point or concept by using (1) verbal statement like ‘look at the blackboard’, ‘see the figure in the chart’ etc. (2) gestures and (3) both verbal statements and non-verbal cues. Ø  Making use of the different senses like hearing, seeing, touching and so on.
4	Change in speech pattern	Ø  Voice modulation to pay special attention to a particular point. Ø  Variation in time, pitch, speed of voice
5	Physical pupil pattern	Ø  Variation in physical involvement of the students Ø  Eg: student moves towards the blackboard to work out a problem. Student holds the chart.
6	Verbal pupil pattern	Ø  Involvement of the students through verbal communication style as: (1) teacher to group (2)teacher to student (3) student to student Ø  Example: asking questions, discussion etc.

Assignment

Ø  Make a PowerPoint presentation for skill of stimulus variation and its components.

Ø  Write an episode for skill of stimulus variation in teaching of mathematics.

FAQ

Ø  Describe the components of skill of stimulus variation.

Ø  What are the components involved in skill of stimulus variation?

Ø  What is the meaning of teacher movement in skill of stimulus variation?

Ø  What is the difference between physical pupil pattern and verbal pupil pattern?

Ø  What do you mean by stimulus questions?

Ø  Which type of activities is called as a change in speech pattern?

Quiz

If the trainee needs to develop body movement during his/ her teaching.  Then as an observer, which of the component you will mark it in your coding sheet?

a) Change in speech pattern                      b) Teacher movement

c) Teacher gesture                                            d) Change in sensory focus

Micro teaching is

a) Teaching method                                 b) Teaching process

c) Teacher training technique                     d) Stimulation process

The third step of micro teaching cycle is

a) Replan                                               b) Teaching

c)  Feedback                                          d) Planning    

In the below, which is not related to skill of stimulus variation?

a) Teacher movement                              b) teacher gesture

c) Fluency                                              d) change in speech pattern

In the below, which is not related to skill of stimulus variation?

a) Clarity                                               b) teacher gesture

c) Change in sensory focus                       d) change in speech pattern

Glossary

Stimulating     =       inspiring

Variation        =       deviation

Movement     =       changing the position

Gesture         =       signal

Focus            =       centre

Pattern          =       prototype

Verbal           =       oral

Epilogue

                 Microteaching helps in systematic and objective analysis of the pattern of classroom communication through specific observation schedule. Microteaching simulates the classroom scene and gives the teacher trainee an experience of real teaching. This module has attempted to throw some light on the skill of stimulus variation and its components.