Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

Availability

Open Access Dissertation

Abstract

This interpretive phenomenological study, which sought to understand the lived experiences of nine preservice teachers in a pre-student teaching practicum, has uncovered helpful findings. The study investigated their perceptions of relationships, roles, and fit with cooperating teachers, as well as their impact on socio-emotional aspects, particularly their feelings of readiness for student teaching and teacher identity development. These findings address the literature gap regarding preservice teachers’ perspectives on clinical practice before student teaching and have the potential to impact the field of teacher education. Interviews provided qualitative textual data, and transcripts were analyzed for participants’ significant meaning statements, leading to the emergence of five critical themes that captured the essence of the practicum experience. Supportive, collaborative relationships with cooperating teachers, built on mentorship guidance, trust through autonomy, constructive advice, and confidence from teaching experiences, promote a sense of belonging, satisfaction, and emotional well-being, and help foster a stronger teacher identity and confident readiness for student teaching. Greater involvement of preservice teachers, particularly through meaningful engagement with students, leads to enhanced satisfaction with the practicum and positive feelings about teacher identity development, self-efficacy, and student teaching preparedness. Moreover, if opportunities for involvement are lacking, preservice teachers should take the initiative to suggest ways to assist the teacher or support student learning. Keywords: preservice teacher, pre-student teaching practicum, mentoring, cooperating teacher, teacher emotions, professional identity, teacher education

Year of Submission

2025

Degree Name

Doctor of Education

First Advisor

Sohyun Meacham, Chair

Object Description

1 PDF file (xiii, 158 pages)

Language

en

Download

Comments?

Share

COinS