Practicum in Pedagogy (Education Degrees): an empirical study from the point of view of trainee students Practicum

The aim of this study is to find out and analyse the degree of satisfaction of our Practicum II students and the actual practical value of the subject for students of Education [Pedagogy] at the University of Oviedo (Spain). From the point of view of methodology, we start by employing a quantitative research design; more specifically, we have used a descriptive model based on a detailed questionnaire answered by Practicum II students during the academic year 2005-06. The areas of analysis are the following: a) the organization of the training period (including time sequences, practice centres/institutions and discussion workshops; b) the agents involved in Practicum (university tutors, tutors in practice centres or institutions, and Practicum coordinators); c) the process of evaluation (evaluation criteria); d) the relevance of teaching practice for future teachers; e) suggestions to improve Practicum and other contributions (unlike parts A-D, section E includes open-ended questions). The technique is supplemented by the analysis of official documents which provide relevant information about the purpose and scope of Practicum, and by interviews to "key-informants" who provide different points of view on the content of the study. Both techniques allow us to validate the information collected through questionnaires. Data was analyzed through the use of SPSS, a statistics programme, and by means of content analysis of qualitative information. The results of the study prove the students' positive opinion of the way Practicum II is carried out, although they also show the need to improve and update some operational details, in line with the prevailing theories within the European Space for Higher Education (ESHE).