Effectiveness of Activity-Based Learning and Project-Based Learning for Improving Preservice Teachers’ Teaching Skills in a Micro Teaching Course

Innovative teaching methods are gradually becoming indispensable.
Today, more than ever, teacher trainers are expected to think critically
about effectively applying activity-based and project-based learning in a
micro-teaching course. This study investigates the effectiveness of
activity-based and project-based learning for improving preservice
teachers’ teaching skills in a micro-teaching course. The study employs
the experimental research design. A purposive sampling technique is
used to select a sample of 63 second-year students out of 300
undergraduate students of the Department of Curriculum and Pedagogy
in the Faculty of Education of the University of Bamenda. Stratified
randomisation is used to place students into two treatment groups:
control and experimental. Each group is made up of 21 students. Data
for the study is collected using a self-constructed pre-test and post-test.
The instrument is face validated by two experts, and the Cronbach alpha
reliability coefficient is 0.821. The estimation technique used is a paired
sample t-test. From the findings, the higher post-test scores as compared
to pre-test scores reveal that, micro-teaching course has resulted in the
expected acquisition of teaching skills. The results for hypotheses one
and two are statistically significant (t=5.542; df=20; p=.000) and (t=5.878;
df=20; p=.000) respectively. The study concludes that activity-based and
project-based learning are effective, innovative methods for improving
preservice teachers’ teaching skills. Based on the findings, this study
recommends that teachers and learners should frequently use innovative
teaching methods in a micro-teaching course and other courses alongside
other innovative teaching strategies. Higher education authorities should
insert innovative teaching methods and strategies into their programmes.

Keywords: Activity-based learning, project-based learning, preservice teachers, teaching skills, micro teaching course.