Research in Social Sciences and Technology
Vol 1 No 1 (2016): Research in Social Science and Technology

Virtually Ready? Pre-service teachers' perceptions of a virtual internship experience

Stewart Waters (College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States)
William B. Russell (College of Community Innovation and Education, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, United States)



Article Info

Publish Date
29 May 2016

Abstract

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand the experiences of six secondary pre-service teachers that completed a semester long internship with a supervising mentor at a virtual school in the Southeastern United States. The secondary pre-service teachers in this study voluntarily chose a placement in the virtual school over a traditional classroom placement for completion of their initial licensure field experience. This study sought to examine why secondary pre-service teachers chose a virtual internship and what their experiences were like as online instructors. A total of six participants completed a sixty-minute semi-structured interview at the completion of the semester long virtual school internship. Results of the study indicated that secondary pre-service teachers' primary motivation for entering a virtual internship experience was "Å“convenience". Additionally, participants felt prepared for future employment in virtual schools, but had some reservations about their prospects in a traditional classroom setting.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

ressat

Publisher

Subject

Education

Description

Office address of Editor-in-Chief: Yesilova Mah. Caldiran Cad. 29/11 Etimesgut-Ankara-Turkey-- E-ISSN registered office located at Den Haag Netherlands, 2496 ...