Practicum Its sort of like an internship. Its hands-on learning in the workplace, related to your major. For example, an education major would do student-teaching for their practicum. A practicum is a graduate level course, often in a specialized field of study, that is designed to give students supervised practical application of a previously or concurrently studied theory. Practicums (student teaching) are common for education and social workmajors. In some cases, the practicum may be a part-time student teaching placement that occurs the semester before a students full-time student teaching placement. It is also called work placement, especially in the UK. The process resembles an internship; however, the latter is often not part of the school program. A practicum is involved in optional parts of schooling. Developing teaching competence through practice The practicum enables student teachers to acquire beginning teaching competencies and is a core component of the Initial Teacher Preparation programme in NIE. The purpose of the practicum is to help prepare student teachers for the realities of student teaching by providing them with a clear understanding of the contexts for schooling. The practicum plays a major role in bridging “theory and practice” but beyond that, it offers the context for student teachers to develop their personal teaching competence (Smith and Lev-Ari, 2005, 291) and to acquire and develop the knowledge of teaching and professional content knowledge of teachers (Shulman, 1987). It is through the practicum experience that student teachers develop important professional knowledge such as knowledge of people, knowledge of themselves, self-control and inter-personal sensitivity - all of which are important traits that would see them though their professional lives (Eraut, 1988, cited in Yan & He, 2009). In addition, practicum teaches soft skills such as independent problem-solving, working collegially with fellow staff teachers and developing professional values and attitudes (Ramsden, 1992). During practicum, student teachers are mentored and guided by their School Coordinating Mentors (SCMs), Cooperating Teachers (CTs) and NIE Supervisors (NIES) through systematic observations, assistance and advice. They will have opportunities to become involved with, and actively participate in all aspects of the school’s activities. Through these experiences they will learn to link theory and practice, and to acquire the understanding and skills necessary for teaching effectively in a range of classroom situations. Empathy You have the ability to bond with your students, to understand and resonate with their feelings and emotions. To communicate on their level. To be compassionate with them when they are down and to celebrate with them when they are up. Positive Mental Attitude You are able to think more on the positive and a little less on the negative. To keep a smile on your face when things get tough. To see the bright side of things. To seek to find the positives in every negative situation. To be philosophical. Open to Change You are able to acknowledge that the only real constant in life is change. You know there is a place for tradition but there is also a place for new ways, new ideas, new systems, and new approaches. You dont put obstacles in your way by being blinkered and are always open and willing to listen to others ideas. Role Model You are the window through which many young people will see their future. Be a fine role model. Creative You are able to motivate your students by using creative and inspirational methods of teaching. You are different in your approach and that makes you stand out from the crowd. Hence the reason why students enjoy your classes and seek you out for new ideas. Sense of Humour You know that a great sense of humour reduces barriers and lightens the atmosphere especially during heavy periods. An ability to make your students laugh will carry you far and gain you more respect. It also increases your popularity. Presentation Skills You know that your students are visual, auditory or kinaesthetic learners. You are adept at creating presentation styles for all three. Your body language is your main communicator and you keep it positive at all times. Like a great orator you are passionate when you speak. But at the same time you know that discussion and not lecturing stimulates greater feedback. Calmness You know that the aggression, negative attitudes and behaviours that you see in some of your students have a root cause. You know that they are really scared young people who have come through some bad experiences in life. This keeps you calm and in control of you, of them and the situation. You are good at helping your students de-stress. Respectful You know that no one is more important in the world than anyone else. You know that everyone has a place in the world. You respect your peers and your students. Having that respect for others gets you the respect back from others. Inspirational You know that you can change a young persons life by helping them to realise their potential, helping them to grow, helping them to find their talents, skills and abilities. Passion You are passionate about what you do. Teaching young people is your true vocation in life. Your purpose in life is to make a difference. Willing to Learn You are willing to learn from other teachers AND your students. Although knowledgeable in your subject you know that you never stop learning. Other qualities of a Good Teacher from our visitors Qualities for a good teacher: should know their subject and make the lesson interesting should be a good listener too should give boundaries and be firm and fair should be able to install confidence in their class will be able to make their class feel at ease will remain calm Cheryl/UK _____________________________________________________________ A great teacher has to be knowledgeable, confident, caring and sharing, fair to all students and well-organized too. Musaad/U.S. Minor Outlying Islands _____________________________________________________________ Agood teacher should be a positive role model Nicole/Jamaica _____________________________________________________________ A Good Teacher shall also be a perpetual Student and should be able to make learning a pleasent experience. He should teach Students to face a crisis with a SMILE. He should be able to Inspire students to succes. Dr Keshav/India _____________________________________________________________ Just be yourself and try to level with the learners needs and yours. Have self confidence. Kedibone/South Africa _____________________________________________________________ A good teacher must be smart. He/She should wear clothes which are clean and acceptable by the social standards. Mr Mbise Uless _____________________________________________________________ A good teacher should see him/herself as a steward. He/She should be ready to give account of his/her stewardship. And, is a resource person. OlanrewajU/Nigeria _____________________________________________________________ A great teacher is the one who is always willing to help his/her students. They are the ones that dont stop teaching when the bell rings. _____________________________________________________________ They reach out to students after class. They know that some need extra attention or assistance, and they dont act like its not their job. _____________________________________________________________ They take that job seriously and know they arent just employed to get students to be able to do higher math, but do well in life. _____________________________________________________________ They realize that achievement isnt just a good grade on a test, but a feeling of accomplishment with mastering a subject; they are willing to work with a student for that feeling. Udit/India A TEACHERS PRAYER OH GOD, IM ONLY A TEACHER, And its lonely work because Im the only member of my species in the room. I like kids. and l love my subject matter. And I have higher hopes for these kids of mine than they have for themselves: I want them to create. They want to consume. I want them to love the world. They want the world to love them. I want every day to be different. They want every day to be the same. I want them to burn with zeal, about something. They want to be cool, about everything. I want them to think. They want me to tell them. I want the bell to ring. They want the bell to ring. OH GOD. IM A TEACHER, Im not their buddy. I dont want to be. Ive seen what they do to their buddies. Im not their parent, and yet theyre looking high and low for parents and cant seem to find them. Im their teacher. I dont want them to take me at my word. I want them to find the words. OH GOD. lM A TEACHER, So Im perfectly willing to move mountains, if youll send me some hands for the end of my lever: Send me a couple of administrators who care more about standards than they do about their jobs. Send me the occasional parent who sees in me a colleague, not a scapegoat. Send me a few kids every year, willing to brave their peers in order to learn. OH GOD, IM ONLY A TEACHER I want to make bricks. Could you send me some straw? Amen ACKNOWLEDGEMENT As an Engineering Undergraduate of the Faculty of Engineering of University of Peradeniyanow I have successfully completed my industrial training session. I would like to give mysincere gratitude to all parties inside and outside the faculty for giving their hand to make thistraining event a success.I deeply thank the director of ITCGU (Industrial Training and Career Guidance Unit) of Faculty of Engineering and the director of NAITA who had done all arrangements to assignus to a company for Industrial Training in our stream. Making interview sessions andinteracting with lots of companies, likewise the way they arranged their programme to placeall undergraduates to a necessary organization is highly appreciable.My greatest thank should be convey to the Dialog Telekom PLC as they selected me as atrainee in their organization and the HR people who had done all documentary and otherworks regarding our requirement. Further I would like to thank all the Division Managers whogave instructions us to how to precede the training in their divisions and all the Engineers,Technical Officers and other staff members who provided a best training session with learningmaterials in each division with their busy schedules. And like to remember the Engineers andTechnical Officers who paid attention to arrange site visits to us as much as possible. And allstaff members who took us for sites even though there was not enough transport facilities.Let me also thank NAITA again, to visit training places to observe us during the trainingperiod. Finally I would like to thank everybody who is not mentioned above, help me tosuccess my training period.
Posted on: Mon, 04 Nov 2013 07:19:05 +0000
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