“The show must go on”: Lessons learned from English pre-service teachers in an online teaching practicum during Covid-19 Pandemic in Indonesia

Abstract

This study explored opportunities, challenges and ways to cope, and lessons learned from an online teaching practicum. Seven pre-service teachers participated in this study after they had completed the online teaching practicum. Using a case study design, the data gathered from a set of questions delivered via WhatsApp and follow-up interviews were analyzed using content analysis. The findings indicated that the online teaching practicum provides opportunities for the PSTs for professional growth as their technological, empathy on students’ difficulties, and extracurricular participation improved. The PSTs put effort into ensuring the students engaged in learning. Sharing teaching materials from YouTube and providing PowerPoint, communication using WhatsApp group and personal chats were provided to cope with the difficulty of teaching material delivery. This study implies that teaching practicum programs should be well-planned and well-designed to meet online teaching and learning and to still be able to generate prospective professional teachers. Previously, teaching practicum programs were conducted in a school setting, and recently in an online mode. Therefore, they might possibly be completed in blended learning in the future, which requires Initial Teacher Education (ITE) to anticipate this alternative way of teaching practicum.