Group Teaching

For the class’ fieldwork activity, the group on which I belong was assigned to teach a fitness program to some of the members of the CAMP administration. Our group made and agreed upon a consolidated instructional design we were to implement before the actual activity. As a for the fitness program, we chose to conduct an Aerobic dance workshop for our five clients last Wednesday, March 25. We started the workshop with an interactive lecture about aerobic exercise, its health benefits, and what our clients could expect during the exercise. Then, a demonstration of the aerobic dance steps was done to help our clients familiarize themselves with the steps included in the dance proper. Consecutively, the warm up, aerobic dance, and cool down exercises was performed by our clients as they followed the demonstrators. A small group discussion wherein our clients shared their insights of the workshop concluded our fieldwork activity.

The activity has given me a whole new experience for me. Not only did I taught exercises, but I had to instruct a group of adults who I see almost every day. It was nerve racking at first but we, me and my groupmates, were able to build a rapport with our clients. Fortunately, they were all receptive and participative all throughout the workshop and they seemed to be enjoying the activity as well. They were able to follow and imitate each of the instructors and we were able to correct their form and steps. It also takes a lot of courage and confidence in correcting a client. You must always remain tactful and you should observe the tone of your voice warranted for an effective communication. We as professionals must find a way on how to express our thoughts to our clients in a casual but respectful manner especially if they are older than you but you want to make the atmosphere light and fun.

Aside from being able to build rapport with our clients, we fairly did a good job in connecting with our clients. Despite the age difference of most of our clients, I think we were able to seize their interest and undivided attention all throughout the workshop. The lecture was interactive and went on smoothly as we used simple understandable terms. We have also used songs according to our clients’ preference. The steps we chose were fairly easy to remember and execute easing the dance proper performance. Also, we were able to get our clients insights and reflections about the workshop and their suggestions on how they could possible continue exercising even without such workshop.

Maintaining a teaching class as casual as possible may help in picking up our client’s mood and interest but we must also know our boundaries. Our conduct whenever we are teaching must still remain professional.  We ought to finish our sentences with a complete thought and avoid talking in fragments to avoid confusion and misgivings on our clients. With that, we must take Ms. Rodriguez’s advice that if we catch ourselves lost or confused with our own words, we should pause and clear our thoughts first before continuing with what we were saying. That way, we can avoid misunderstandings and irritating or perplexing our clients.

Another point where our group could improve is for us to maximize all the resources that were given to us. We could still have improved our set-up into using the whole room instead of using less than half of the room’s space. Also, we forgot to put the light back on during the small group discussion. We were so immersed with our plan and in observing our time table that we failed to notice the cues and prompts for clarifications and further explanation that our clients were giving. In the end, we were unsuccessful in being as flexible as we hoped to be during our teaching session. It was something that I must remember every time I am faced with a client.

Our clients, members of the CAMP administration, showed that they did enjoy our aerobic dance workshop. They even wanted to have it every week. For such reason, I commend our group for accomplishing our fieldwork activity better than we expected. I am hoping that I could to the same when I begin teaching my very own client by myself as I keep all of my learning from the fieldwork activity.