Challenges and Support for Pre-service Teachers’ Virtual Teaching and Practicums: Implications for Bahamian Educational Systems

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15362/ijbs.v27i0.433

Keywords:

Teacher education, Online instruction, Virtual teaching, Internet videoconferencing

Abstract

Teacher education programmes, nationally and internationally, are unique both at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Specifically, in the Bahamian educational system, they are designed to produce certified K-12 teachers who demonstrate academic and professional excellence in a variety of subject areas. These programmes incorporate a theoretical component and a culminating practical experience that requires pre-service teachers to be evaluated on the quality of their teaching. Normally the culminating experience has been completed in the traditional face-to-face setting. However, the onset of COVID-19 resulted in an immediate imposition of a virtual teaching practicum. This integrated literature review explores the challenges pre-service teachers faced and the support systems they needed during a virtual teaching practicum and addresses implications for practice in a Bahamian setting.

Author Biographies

Yvonne Hunter-Johnson, Southern Illinois University (Carbondale)

Associate Professor within Department of Workforce Education and Development

Norrisa Newton, School of Education- University of The Bahamas

Assistant Professor - School of Education- University of The Bahamas

Beulah Gardiner-Farquharson, University of The Bahamas

Full Professor - School of Education- University of The Bahamas

Janice Munnings, School of Education- University of The Bahamas

Full Professor - School of Education- University of The Bahamas

Neresa Bandelier, School of Education- University of The Bahamas

Associate Professor - School of Education- University of The Bahamas

Faith Butler, School of Education- University of The Bahamas

Full Professor - School of Education- University of The Bahamas

Tarah McDonald, School of Education- University of The Bahamas

Assistant Professor - School of Education- University of The Bahamas

Natasha Swann, School of Education- University of The Bahamas

Assistant Professor - School of Education- University of The Bahamas

Raquel Edgecombe, School of Education- University of The Bahamas

Associate Professor - School of Education- University of The Bahamas

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Published

2021-10-29

How to Cite

Hunter-Johnson, Y., Newton, N., Gardiner-Farquharson, B., Munnings, J., Bandelier, N., Butler, F., … Edgecombe, R. (2021). Challenges and Support for Pre-service Teachers’ Virtual Teaching and Practicums: Implications for Bahamian Educational Systems. International Journal of Bahamian Studies, 27, 147–164. https://doi.org/10.15362/ijbs.v27i0.433