The interactive demonstration is a training technique in which a number of separate steps and learner's participation are used for promoting the learning of a new skill or practice. The distinctive feature of interactive demonstration is that the trainer first explains and performs a step and then all the participants perform the same step under the guidance of the trainer. There is sharing of experience between the trainer and the trainee throughout the demonstration.
Interactive demonstration differs from observational demonstration in a way that in interactive demonstration there is active involvement of learners/participants during the process of demonstration. In observational demonstration, the trainer plans and organizes demonstration ahead of time and then conducts in presence of trainers. While the trainer explains new skills and the participants simply watch and listen. This passive watching does not provide an opportunity to participants to be actively involved in demonstration. On the contrary, the interactive demonstration provides higher involvement of both trainer and trainees where there is a possibility to judge the change of behaviour of trainees.
The points that should be kept in mind while planning interactive demonstration include the objective of the demonstration; the target audience, the materials required for interactive demonstration and their availability and listing of required equipments and teaching aids. While presenting interactive demonstration keep the following points in mind:
Arrange the room: Be sure to arrange the room or the demonstration sight before the participants arrive. Provide a clear view of the demonstration area and plenty of room to work.
Set the climate: Ask the participants what new skill or method they want to learn and the situation in which they will apply learning. Then discuss the potential benefits and start the demonstration by narrating personal experiences or success stories.
State the objective: State objectives in terms of knowledge or skills to be acquired.
Display and describe the materials: Take few minutes to show and describe the materials to be used in interactive demonstration.
Conduct interactive demonstration: Ask the participants what they need to do first to perform the operation and then ask questions to clarify points. After presenting demonstration request the participants to repeat what they have observed and tell them to do it by themselves. Allow participants to identify the next task to be performed.
Closing demonstration: At the end of an interactive demonstration, it is necessary for the trainer to summarize the main points of demonstration to know whether the learner understood about the demonstration or did they experience any difficulty in learning a skill/method.
Participants