A Systematic Review of the Practicum Experience in Preservice Teacher Education During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, preservice teachers in all education programmes have been affected by the closure of schools. This has forced a shift from in-school preservice teaching experience to an online preservice teaching approach. The aim of the present paper is to provide an overview of research on teaching practicum experience during the COVID-19 pandemic through a systematic review. Out of 51 initially identified publications between March 2020 and December 2020, 26 articles were included for the final synthesis in terms of teaching strategies, methods used for assessing preservice teachers, digital technology tools and challenges that faculties and preservice teachers faced. The results indicate that the most commonly used teaching strategies used in the practicum were demonstration in synchronous sessions, observation/helping associate teachers, micro-teaching, and e-coaching/mentoring. Additionally, the results demonstrated that the main use of digital technology tools was for communication, instruction, collaboration and e-coaching. Additionally, the results present four methods of assessment that education programmes followed: (1) grading preservice teachers’ performance in the first weeks of the spring semester; (2) evaluating students’ recorded lessons; (3) evaluating prepared virtual classroom presentation; and (4) grading online portfolios. Moreover, the results indicate that faculties and preservice teachers have faced numerous challenges such as a lack of real teaching experience, limited experience in the use of information and communications technology (ICT), and a lack of technological infrastructure, access and support. The conclusions reflect on the importance of including technology integration and teaching and learning in the online environment in courses offered by teacher education programmes, equity issues for students, and the need to strengthen preservice teachers’ beliefs in their capacity to deal with the transition to distance modes of education in times of crisis.