Getting Experience in Computer Science Education - Guide to Teaching Computer Science: An Activity-Based Approach - page 245

Table 13. 1 Example of a student teacher's day of practicum
Lesson Activity

1 Observing a grade 12 computer lab lesson given by the mentor teacher

2 Observing a grade 12 lesson on binary trees given by the mentor teacher

3 Meeting with the mentor-teacher and the pedagogical supervisor analyzing the lesson

on binary trees

4 CS staff meeting on composing a grade 10 test on If statements

5 Meeting with the pedagogical supervisor as a preparation for teaching a lesson on

two-dimensional arrays in grade 11 that will take place in the following week

6 Meeting with the pedagogical supervisor and all CS student-teachers in preparation

for the tutoring activity

7 Tutoring grade 10 pupil. The main topic: If statements

Teaching Lessons The student-teachers teach lessons and gradually expand their
level and length. At the beginning of the year, they teach only part of a lesson; for
example, they may explain part of a program to the class. Later on, they may teach
a full problem-solving process, gradually progressing to teaching an entire lesson,
for example, on nested If statements. By the end of the year they teach an entire
teaching unit, for example, arrays.

Active Participation The students-teachers are active participants in the CS staff
meetings (the learning community), in which various teaching issues are addressed,
for example, the issue of integrating visualizations.

Development and Grading Tests The student-teachers develop tests (for example,
the final test on loops) together with the mentor-teachers and the pedagogical super-
visors, and help the mentor-teachers grade the pupils' tests.

Supporting Pupils with Special Needs The student-teachers help pupils with spe-
cial needs during tests, for example by reading the tests and dictating them.

Fulfilling Teacher Obligations Student-teachers are also involved in other daily
teachers' obligations, such as, monitoring pupils in the school yard during the
recess, a duty that all teachers must fulfill.

Personal Meetings Student-teachers hold personal meetings with their mentor-
teachers and pedagogical supervisor.

Group Discussions The student-teachers, as a group, discuss with other student-
teachers from the same discipline or from another disciplines various teaching and
learning situations, successful events, and difficulties and challenges they face
while teaching.