Comparative Study: Teaching Practices at USP vs University of Deusto, Spain

Teaching Practice: a comparative study of the USP & the University of Deusto, Spain

There is a need for highly effective teachers in every classroom. This requires that the teacher education system develops a comprehensive and effective teacher training program and professional development support to maintain and develop it. Teacher training across the world has the same vision: to train quality teachers for the current society. Keeping this in mind I accepted a month s training leave at the University of Deusto in Bilbao, Spain to understudy their teaching practice program. The objective of my stay was to learn how this university implements its practicum and if we could use some of their ideas at the USP.

Ariel view of Bilbao campus, University of Deusto, Spain

Campus Map

Campus Map on marble surface

The University

School of Education/Administration building

University Library on the left

University of Deusto

Practicum Coordination What happens at USP: SOEd coordinates and implements the practicum What happens at UD: SOEd coordinates practicum. Implemented by subject tutors/specialists from the respective faculties Comments: Like ED250 & ED350 where the faculty subject specialists are involved, the same can be done for ED300; i.e. they can assess & report on their own students Less travelling by SOEd staff (cost cutting) No need to hire markers because tutors will mark their own students work (cost cutting)

Number of visits What happens at USP : One visit for very good students, two visits for average performers and 3 visits for weaker students (very rare cases) What happens at UD: Only one visit per student. After discussion with the ATs if the student is found weak, he/she is told to repeat the practicum Comments : If we follow what UD does then there is implication on budget (savings due to one visit only)

Feedback from the students What happens at USP: Only if the SOEd assessor encourages any feedback during report discussion. Evaluation form is filled in at the end of practicum What happens at UD: Once every three weeks the students are called to the UD campus for a half day workshop where they share their hands on experiences and the coordinator gives them constructive feedback

Comments Possible to do this at USP: Constructive feedback is given during practicum Students get a platform to share their experiences with fellow colleagues and learn from each other s experiences A good away of evaluating the practicum

Final grade for the students What happens at USP: Marks from Ats , SOEd lecturers & school coordinators reports added to get a total mark out of 35 Lots of photocopying of all the documents What happens at UD: The UD lecturers, after the assessment of students, discuss students marks with the ATs and together they decide on the final marks. The ATs assist and guide and do not write any report but make notes on students performances. They are considered to be in a better position to assist the visiting lecturers in deciding on the final marks because they have been involved with the students for a longer period

Comments: Possible at USP: it will reduce frequent school visits (cost effective) ATs assessments are always questionable because their marks are often high No complaints from ATs as it will minimize their paper work Less number of staff involvement from SOEd cost effective Less photocopying of documents - cost effective

Lecture session: group picture

Conclusion All universities vision to graduate quality teachers. Sharing international participation and accommodating change for the better will route practicum at USP in the upgraded pathway