Abstract

The paper is aimed to investigate the effectiveness of the student teachers’ practicum in Jing Hengyi Honors College, Hangzhou Normal University. Based on the questionnaires, case analysis of the student teachers and interviews with the university professors and some collected reflections of student teachers, the thesis investigates the effectiveness from several different aspects, such as the practicum backgrounds and the practicum results. According to the research, the ineffectiveness of the practicum mainly existed in the practicum backgrounds, mainly including the evaluation, the time arrangement, the lack of communication among group members and the lack of practice opportunities, etc. But referred to the practicum results, the practicum is effective. Most student teachers’ occupational awareness and identification has improved while their professional teaching and classroom managing abilities also have been enhanced a lot. At last the paper also raises some available implications from different perspectives to improve the effectiveness of the teaching practicum. 

Key words: Effectiveness; practicum backgrounds; practicum results; implications

Contents

Abstract

摘  要

1. Introduction-1

1.1 Background-1

1.2 The Necessity of Educational Practicum-1

1.3 The Objectives of this investigation-2

2. Literature review-4

2.1 Definitions-4

2.1.1 Definition of “educational practicum”-4

2.1.2 Definition of “Effectiveness of the practicum”-5

2.2 The problems caused by the universities-5

2.2.1 The unreasonable arrangements of practicum-6

2.2.2 The inconsequence arrangements of curriculum-6

2.2.3 The irresponsible instructors from the university-6

2.3 The problems caused by the student teachers-7

2.3.1 The immaturity existing in student teachers’ psychology-7

2.3.2 The deficiencies existing in student teachers’ real abilities-7

2.4 The problems caused by the schools which provide the practicum and field experiences-8

2.4.1 The insufficient funds and unreasonable schedule-8

2.4.2 The student teachers being lack of chance-8

2.5 Conclusion-9

3. Methodologies-10

3.1 The subjects of the Research-10

3.2 The instruments of the research-10

3.3 The Procedure of the Research-10

4. Results and Discussion-12

4.1 The effectiveness of the practicum’s background-12

4.1.1 The evaluation of the practicum-13

4.1.2 The arrangement and time schedule for the practicum-14

4.1.3 The deficiency in the allowance of the practicum-16

4.1.4 The deviation between the student teachers’ real abilities and their expectations-17

4.1.5 The lack of communication among group members-18

4.1.6 The guidance from the teachers themselves-19

4.1.7 The lack of practice chances provided by the schools-20

4.2 The effectiveness of the student teachers’ practicum results-21

4.2.1 The overall abilities of student teachers-22

4.2.2 The teaching abilities of student teachers-23

4.2.3 The classroom managing abilities of student teachers-24

5. Implications for improving the effectiveness of student teachers’ practicum and field experience-26

5.1 The implications for the universities-26

5.2 The implications for the student teachers themselves-27

5.3 The implications for the schools which provide the practicum-28

6. Conclusion-30

References-31

Appendixes-33

1. Questionnaires-33

2. Interview-37

3. Reflections-38