Reflections of Students' Pedagogical Internship in Primary School: The Context of Improving Pedagogical Internship

Abstract

First cycle students’ pedagogical internship in primary school helps to improve the preparation of future pedagogues – teachers, social pedagogues, organisers of extracurricular activities. Three cycles reflecting a consistent change of roles of students who do pedagogical internship are distinguished in the model of pedagogical internship of Šiauliai University – from the observer, or pedagogue assistant under the supervision of mentor and the head of internship, to independent teacher. Pedagogical internship is not only a part of the study process, but also the factor encouraging the professional progress of a student and school where s/he is appointed for internship to and the higher school preparing the future pedagogue. Following internship, students are prompted to reflect their experience, notice its negative and positive sides, successes and failures they faced, reconsider acquired competences and foresee the ways of their professional improvement. The aim of the research is to reveal the experiences and insights of first cycle students of Šiauliai University who did a pedagogical internship in primary school that are significant for improvement of internship arrangement. The written reflection method was applied to reach the aim and collect the research data. Empirical data are analysed in the way of content analysis. The experiences and insights of first cycle students of Šiauliai University, who did a pedagogical internship in primary school, significant for improvement of pedagogical internship implementation are analysed at the time of the study. It is established that students apply their theoretical knowledge in practice during their pedagogical internship, elucidate the expediency of their profession choice and motivation for pedagogical activity. The advantages and the aspects of the pedagogical internship in primary school to be improved are revealed. Keywords: choice of profession, experience reflection, internship improvement, pedagogical internship.