Abstract:
This paper is a report of research in progress; it presents results and interpretations to date of various aspects of a pilot evaluation commenced in late September this year, of the practicum component of the teacher education courses offered at Deakin University - Geelong.
Data was collected using a comprehensive survey, taped audio interviews and various student reflective exercises. In the following discussion reference will be made to data collected from the surveys and interviews. The data collected was concerned with the participants perspectives and recollections of the 4 week [3 days per week] school based field experience [or teaching round] completed in August-September this year. That is, the main concern was not with
-what guide-lines were provided to students and schools, or
-the set requirements, or
-the stated goals for the practicum,
but on the participants' personal understanding of these and whether this was a determinant of their perceptions of the effectiveness of the practicum.
Data was collected using a comprehensive survey, taped audio interviews and various student reflective exercises. In the following discussion reference will be made to data collected from the surveys and interviews. The data collected was concerned with the participants perspectives and recollections of the 4 week [3 days per week] school based field experience [or teaching round] completed in August-September this year. That is, the main concern was not with
-what guide-lines were provided to students and schools, or
-the set requirements, or
-the stated goals for the practicum,
but on the participants' personal understanding of these and whether this was a determinant of their perceptions of the effectiveness of the practicum.