Trainee teachers’ experiences of teaching practicum: issues, challenges, and new possibilities

Peter Mtika

    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

    Abstract

    This paper focuses on a qualitative case study concerned with teaching practicum as a pivotal component of teacher education in Malawi. It addresses some of the issues and concerns associated with workload, ill-defined mentoring support, and implementation of certain pedagogical orientations during teaching practicum placement. Purposive sampling was used to select participants. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews. The findings indicate that trainee teachers undergo varied and often challenging experiences during teaching practicum. To counter some of the concerns, suggestions are made to improve certain aspects of teaching practicum. There is need for authentic school – college partnerships, improved structures of school-based professional support, and a deeper awareness of the complexity of learner-centred pedagogy. It is imperative that teacher educators engage with these findings to further improve the design of teaching practicum and the overall quality of teacher education and teaching in Malawi.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)551-567
    Number of pages17
    JournalAfrica Education Review
    Volume8
    Issue number3
    Early online date21 Dec 2011
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 21 Dec 2011

    Fingerprint

    trainee
    Teaching
    teacher
    experience
    Malawi
    mentoring
    workload
    school
    education
    educator
    interview

    Keywords

    • teacher education
    • trainee teacher
    • teaching practicum
    • secondary education

    Cite this

    Trainee teachers’ experiences of teaching practicum : issues, challenges, and new possibilities. / Mtika, Peter.

    In: Africa Education Review, Vol. 8, No. 3, 21.12.2011, p. 551-567.

    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article

    Mtika, P 2011, 'Trainee teachers’ experiences of teaching practicum: issues, challenges, and new possibilities', Africa Education Review, vol. 8, no. 3, pp. 551-567. https://doi.org/10.1080/18146627.2011.618715
    Mtika P. Trainee teachers’ experiences of teaching practicum: issues, challenges, and new possibilities. Africa Education Review. 2011 Dec 21;8(3):551-567. https://doi.org/10.1080/18146627.2011.618715
    Mtika, Peter. / Trainee teachers’ experiences of teaching practicum : issues, challenges, and new possibilities. In: Africa Education Review. 2011 ; Vol. 8, No. 3. pp. 551-567.
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