Ecem Aktop

200907077

Self-Evaluation Paper: Reflecting on Teaching Task 2&3

On May 16, 2024, I conducted a lesson with 6th-grade students at Mehmet Akif Ortaokulu,
focusing on the theme of democracy. The lesson aimed to introduce students to the concept of
democracy and voting, reinforce relevant vocabulary, and engage them in a role-play activity
simulating an election process. Reflecting on this lesson, I am pleased to note that it went
according to plan and achieved its objectives effectively.

The lesson began with a five-minute lead-in activity where I initiated a brief discussion on the
significance of democracy in society. This initial discussion was effective in engaging students
and eliciting their thoughts and prior knowledge on the topic. Following this, I presented the
Democracy Vocabulary Quiz on Kahoot as a warm-up activity. This interactive quiz not only
reinforced key vocabulary but also energized the students and set a positive tone for the rest of
the lesson.

The main part of the lesson involved showing two videos on the smartboard: the first on
democracy and the second on elections. These videos were instrumental in helping students
grasp the main ideas and provided a visual and auditory context for the topic. The ensuing
discussion after each video was lively, with students actively participating and demonstrating
a good understanding of the concepts.

The role-play activity was the highlight of the lesson, designed to give students practical
experience with election procedures. I began by explaining the guidelines and ensuring that
each student understood their role. The use of voter ID cards, ballots, envelopes, and a voting
booth created an authentic election atmosphere.

Students drew lots to determine their roles, which included voters, election officials, observers,
and a spokesperson. This method ensured a fair distribution of roles and kept the students
engaged. The constructed voting booth and other materials added to the realism of the
simulation.

During the voting process, students lined up to submit their ballots, with election officials
overseeing the process and ensuring everything was conducted according to the rules.
Observers monitored the voting area to maintain the integrity of the election, and the
spokesperson periodically reported on the proceedings. This activity not only reinforced their
understanding of democratic principles but also developed their critical thinking and decision-
making skills.
Ecem Aktop
200907077

After all the votes were tallied and the results announced, we engaged in a discussion about the
election outcome. This provided an opportunity for students to reflect on their participation and
the overall process. The respectful atmosphere during the announcement and the feedback
session highlighted the success of the lesson in fostering a cooperative and democratic
classroom environment.

Overall, the lesson was highly successful in meeting its aims and objectives. The structured
approach, effective use of visual aids, and interactive activities facilitated a comprehensive
understanding of democracy and voting among the students. Their active participation and
positive engagement were clear indicators of the lesson's effectiveness.

One area for potential improvement could be to allocate more time for the feedback session at
the end. This would allow students to share more detailed reflections on their roles and the
election process. Additionally, incorporating more digital tools for the role-play, such as an
online voting system, could further enhance the authenticity and engagement of the activity.

This self-evaluation underscores the strengths of the lesson and identifies minor areas for
refinement. By continuing to reflect on and improve my teaching methods, I aim to provide
increasingly effective and engaging lessons for my students. Teaching is a dynamic and
evolving process, and this evaluation serves as a constructive step toward my professional
development as an educator.