Like role-playing and pantomime of the dramatized experience, demonstration is also something very handy. It requires no elaborate preparation and yet as effective as the other instructional materials when done properly.
(According
to Webster’s International Dictionary)
It is define as, “A public showing
emphasizing the salient merits, utility, efficiency, etc, of an article or
product…”
In teaching it is showing how thing is done
and emphasizing of the salient merits, utility and efficiency of a concept, a
method or a process or an attitude.
Guiding
Principles (Edgar Dale 1969)
1.
Establish rapport.
Greet your audience.
Make them feel at ease by your warmth and
sincerity.
Stimulate their interest by making your
demonstration and yourself
interesting.
Sustain their attention.
2.
Avoid COIK fallacy (Clear Only If Known).
What
is this fallacy? It is the assumption that what is clear to the expert
demonstrator is also clearly known to the person for whom the message is
intended.
To
avoid the fallacy, it is best for the expert demonstrator to assume that his
audience knows nothing or a little about what he is intending to demonstrate
for him to be very thorough, clear detailed in his demonstration even to a
point of facing the risk of being repetitive.
Planning
and Preparing For Demonstration
Brown
(1969)
1. What are our objectives?
2.
How does your class stand with respect to these objectives. This is to determine
entry knowledge and skills of your students.
3.
Is there a better way to achieve your ends? If there is a more effective way to
attain your purpose, then replace the demonstration method with the more
effective one.
4.
Do you have access to all the necessary materials and equipment to make the
demonstration? Have a checklist of necessary equipment and material. This may
include written materials.
5.
Are you familiar with the sequence and content of the purposed demonstration?
Outline the steps and rehearse your demonstration.
6.
Are the time limits realistic?
Point
to Observe in the Demonstration
Dale
(1969)
1. Set the tone for good communication. Get
and keep your audience’s interest.
2. Keep your demonstration simple.
3. Do not wander from main ideas.
4. Check to see that your demonstration is
being understood. Watch your audience for signs of bewilderment, boredom, or
disagreement.
5. Do not hurry your demonstration. Asking
questions to check understanding can serve as a “brake”.
6. Do not drag out demonstration.
Interesting things are never dragged out. They create their own tempo.
7. Summarize as you go along and provide a
concluding summary. Use chalkboard, the overhead projector, charts diagrams,
PowerPoint and whatever other materials are appropriate to synthesize your
demonstration.
8. Hand out written materials at the
conclusion.
Questions
to Evaluate Classroom Demonstration
Dale
(1969)
Was
your demonstration adequately and skillfully prepared? Did you select
demonstrable skills or ideas? Were the desired behavioral outcomes clear?
Did
you follow the step-by-step plan? Did you make use of additional material
appropriate to your purposes- chalkboard, felt board, pictures, charts,
diagrams, models, overhead transparencies, or slides?
Was
the demonstration itself correct? Was your explanation simple enough so that
most of the students understood it easily?
Did
you keep checking to see that all your students were concentrating on what you
were doing?
Could
every person see and hear? If a skill was demonstrated for imitation, was it
presented from the physical point of view of the learner?
Did
you held students do their own generalizing?
Did
you take enough time to demonstrate the key points?
Did
you review and summarize the key points?
Did
your students participate in what you were doing by asking thoughtful questions
at the appropriate time?
Did
your evaluation of student learning indicate that your demonstration achieved
its purpose?
Summary:
Good Demonstration is an audio-visual
presentation. It is not enough that the teacher talks. To be effective, his/her
demonstration must be accompanied by some visuals.
Actual
Conduct of Demonstration
1. Get and sustain the interest of the
audience.
2. Keep the demonstration simple, focused and
clear.
3. Do not hurry nor drag out the
demonstration.
4. Check for understanding in the process of
demonstration.
5. Conclude with a summary.
6. Hand out written material at the end of
the demonstration.
