Beginner pre-service special education teachers' learning experience during practicum

In Singapore, training for pre-service special education (PSSE) teachers is supported by a ten-week special education teaching (SET) practicum process in special school setting. In the first four weeks of SET practicum PSSE teachers are familiarized with their pupils, class routines, school culture...

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Main Authors: Nonis, Karen, Sing, T., Jernice, Y.
Format: Journal Article
Published: 2011
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/43416
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author Nonis, Karen
Sing, T.
Jernice, Y.
author_facet Nonis, Karen
Sing, T.
Jernice, Y.
author_sort Nonis, Karen
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description In Singapore, training for pre-service special education (PSSE) teachers is supported by a ten-week special education teaching (SET) practicum process in special school setting. In the first four weeks of SET practicum PSSE teachers are familiarized with their pupils, class routines, school culture and administrative processes within the school. The PSSE teachers were guided in lesson preparation and delivery by way of written and face-to-face feedback. Following this handholding, the PSSE teachers are observed by supervisors and cooperating teachers in the school and the University supervisors and they are graded for their overall performance of the SET practicum. This study focuses on the learning experiences of the PSSE teachers during the ten-week SET practicum in their respective special schools. The PSSE teachers completed a survey the week following completion of their practicum experience in school. Thirty-three (Male = 3; Female = 30) PSSE teachers participated in the survey. The survey instrument used a 4-point Likert scale which included two sections: (a) Teachers' Response to the Practicum Experience their Learning Experience and (b) The process of the SET Practicum. The overall findings indicate that the PSSE teachers had positive experiences. Although the majority of PSSE teachers indicated that they enjoyed the SET practicum, their reasons varied. They felt that their supervisors both within the school and the University understood and the SET practice process and also conveyed the correct SET practicum process to them. The findings of this study are discussed in the light of recommended improvements to the SET practicum process for the PSSE teachers in special schools.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-434162017-01-30T15:07:20Z Beginner pre-service special education teachers' learning experience during practicum Nonis, Karen Sing, T. Jernice, Y. In Singapore, training for pre-service special education (PSSE) teachers is supported by a ten-week special education teaching (SET) practicum process in special school setting. In the first four weeks of SET practicum PSSE teachers are familiarized with their pupils, class routines, school culture and administrative processes within the school. The PSSE teachers were guided in lesson preparation and delivery by way of written and face-to-face feedback. Following this handholding, the PSSE teachers are observed by supervisors and cooperating teachers in the school and the University supervisors and they are graded for their overall performance of the SET practicum. This study focuses on the learning experiences of the PSSE teachers during the ten-week SET practicum in their respective special schools. The PSSE teachers completed a survey the week following completion of their practicum experience in school. Thirty-three (Male = 3; Female = 30) PSSE teachers participated in the survey. The survey instrument used a 4-point Likert scale which included two sections: (a) Teachers' Response to the Practicum Experience their Learning Experience and (b) The process of the SET Practicum. The overall findings indicate that the PSSE teachers had positive experiences. Although the majority of PSSE teachers indicated that they enjoyed the SET practicum, their reasons varied. They felt that their supervisors both within the school and the University understood and the SET practice process and also conveyed the correct SET practicum process to them. The findings of this study are discussed in the light of recommended improvements to the SET practicum process for the PSSE teachers in special schools. 2011 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/43416 restricted
spellingShingle Nonis, Karen
Sing, T.
Jernice, Y.
Beginner pre-service special education teachers' learning experience during practicum
title Beginner pre-service special education teachers' learning experience during practicum
title_full Beginner pre-service special education teachers' learning experience during practicum
title_fullStr Beginner pre-service special education teachers' learning experience during practicum
title_full_unstemmed Beginner pre-service special education teachers' learning experience during practicum
title_short Beginner pre-service special education teachers' learning experience during practicum
title_sort beginner pre-service special education teachers' learning experience during practicum
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/43416