A Study on the Meaning of Teaching Practice by Undergraduates and In-service Teachers

Asking for the Suggestion on the Improvement Strategy for Teaching Practice

Abstract

This is a study with the object of explaining the difference and the similarity between the meaning of teaching practice recognized by undergraduates who have experienced teaching practice and that of teaching practice by in-service teachers reflected on the past concerning those experiences. In this study, the data was gathered from 137 undergraduates who had already experienced practice teaching and 233 in-service teachers.

The findings of this study were as follows: 1) Undergraduates have recognized that they understood practice situation of school education in teaching practice, whereas in-service teachers have not, 2) Both Undergraduates and in-service teachers have thoroughly perceived that teaching pradice allows them not merely to learn what children think along with teaching skills, but also to learn a sense of mission, consciousness, and aptitude for their teaching profession, 3) Neither Undergraduates nor in-service teachers have recognized that it is feasible to obtain fundamental knowledge as to both school and classroom management from their teaching practice. Throughout their teaching practice, however, both of them will need to acquire more capabilities.

Hereafter, a more effective teaching practice program will be required to solve these issues.