MENTORING PROSPECTIVE TEACHERS AT TEACHING PRACTICUM IN B.ED (HONS) 4 YEARS PROGRAM

 

Faiza Masood Fatima¹ Malik Ghulam Behlol²

¹Jinnah Women University, Pakistan, faiza.masood1985@gmail.com

²Assistant Professor Dr., Fatima Jinnah Women University Pakistan, ghulam_behlol@yahoo.com

                                               

 

Abstract

Mentoring prospective teachers is multifaceted process in pre-service teacher education program. This qualitative study was conducted to explore the practices of prospected teachers during teaching practicum in B.ED (Hons) Elementary program. The current study found contradictory views of participants. Teaching practicum was tough experience for prospective teachers, they required proper guideline from cooperative teachers. In school settings cooperative teachers tried to support prospective teachers in learning pedagogical skills through modeling but it is difficult for them to facilitate prospective teachers without appropriate training. The most frequently repeated contradictions are lack of hands on activities, threatening oral feedback, and absence from class rooms on the part of cooperative teacher. Study concluded that prospective teachers learnt a lot during teaching practicum but they need a formal mentoring process to learn how to teach in actual class room situations. In this way, strong collaboration is needed between school and universities.

Key words: Mentoring, prospective teachers, cooperative teachers, teacher education program