Having been gently advised to perhaps do my micro-teaching presentation with my object being a guitar ... I felt that was predictable (from me) and not in keeping with what I teach. I had set my stall out very quickly by using my Buddhist prayer bell and wanted to teach people something that I felt could be useful and was contextualised via my teaching practice. My pastoral duties , my teaching practice and my personal approach to teaching has me engaged in much work around student mental health and well-being. Having utilised a short pre-meditation exercise as prep for acting students at a previous university, I decided to teach my peers the 'Body Scanner Technique'. I was nervous about this, but at the same time confident that I'd be presenting something my peer group would not expect of me. Also, I have the intention to bring this into my current teaching next term, so it was an opportunity to test it out in this more academic environment - as opposed to the more 'lovey' environs of a drama school. Using powerpoint, a personal presentation style and some humour, I settled the class (it seemed) very quickly and enjoyed the experience of teaching this simple but effective technique for focusing the mind and pushing away distraction. It went down well. Having been formally inducted in this practice by PROFESSOR GEOFFREY HUNT, Professor of PHILOSOPHY & ethics: University of Surrey and being able to cite his book 'New Buddha Way Book One', Hunt, G. (2009) New Buddha Way Book 2, Surrey., I felt I was also reacting to advice re citing research - albeit it simple and perhaps not academic. It went down well and I received a good range of positive reactions. Peers did see the value of mindfulness and my having stepped away from the more expected 'dry' aspects of teaching I could have used. Excellent comments justified my going with this:-
Fantastic that this was wellbeing focused (rather than overtly ‘curriculum’ driven – wellbeing the foundation for all productive learning.
Wonderful journey experience. This is a really important area of education that is often overlooked.
Really appreciated your honest approach, felt very connected and found the approach very relatable.
So important, really would like to see this implemented as part of the timetable in some way.
I was really able to identify with the description of stress and thus felt included and understood from the start.
Laleston Press.
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