The Role of Practicum Training in Developing the Professional Skills of the Student Teacher: Monitors’ and Student Teachers’ Perspectives

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate monitors’ and student teachers’ perspectives regarding the role of practicum training in developing the professional skills of the student teacher. A total of 48 female students from the Kindergarten Program at the Majmaah University (who spent the training period in cooperative kindergartens in the cities of Al Majmaah, that is, MA, and Al Zulfi, that is, ZL) as well as six mentors participated in the study. Mixed mode approach was employed. Monitors and student teachers ascertained and emphasised the role of practicum training in developing positive attitudes towards the teaching profession, developing the instrumental competencies of the student teacher, adapting the student teacher to the environment of kindergarten, and achieving emotional balance for student teacher.