Source: Asia-Pacific Journal of Teacher Education, Volume 39, Issue 3, 2011, pages 223-234.
The current study investigated the perceptions of 12 New Zealand first-year primary teachers regarding how their practicum experiences prepared them for starting teaching.
Data were gathered over a 15-month period using semi-structured individual interviews.
The findings showed that, while the beginning teachers consistently viewed the practicum as being a key part of their ITE, their practicum experiences were not always helpful in supporting their move into teaching.
While acknowledging that the practicum cannot replicate the conditions of full-time teaching, the findings suggest that the practicum should be reconsidered in order to more effectively prepare student teachers for the complexities and demands of beginning teaching.