Teaching practicum models in Finland, Singapore, the ETEP universities, and the model in Quy Nhon University: A comparison study
Abstract
Teaching practicum is an integral part of a teacher education progamme. The purpose of this study is to investigate the models offered by the eight institutions of the ETEP, the model used in Singapore, the one in Finland, and the practicum model currently being used by Quy Nhon University to find out an advanced model that works best in the teaching context of the university. The study was conducted by the employment of descriptive and statistical analysis methods. The findings show that there is a striking difference between the practicum model being used by Quy Nhon University and the model offered by the ETEP institutions in terms of the amount of time for students’school experience and teaching practices at school and the mode of organizing the practicum and that the difference is even more significant when the model used by Quy Nhon University and the Singaporean and Finnish models are put side by side for comparision. The role of the stakeholders in practicum is another difference between the models. The study indicates a need for a new model of practicum to enhance the quality of teacher education at Quy Nhon University.