To address the gap between theory and practice, we integrated field learning into an introductory educational technology course for teacher candidates. Most participants were placed in remedial classes for observing and teaching lessons. Some participants were placed in counseling rooms to provide one-on-one tutoring for special students. In our class meetings, we reserved time for the participants to share their field experiences. We also invited school teachers to join the discussions and to provide feedback and advice. To evaluate the implementation effects of the field learning, the participants were asked to complete a questionnaire at the end of the course. The results revealed that the participants highly appreciated the implementation of field learning. They gained better understanding of real-world teaching and became more concerned about student learning. Moreover, the participants valued the communities of practice, especially the participation of school teachers. Despite the positive effects of field learning, implementing it successfully in teacher training courses is still challenging. On the basis of our findings, we presented relevant recommendations and future research at the end.
關聯:
Proceedings of the International Conference on Management and Information Technology
