Service-learning: A valuable means of preparing pre-service teachers for a teaching practicum

Abstract

The use of service-learning as a teaching methodology is in its infancy within Australian tertiary institutions. Parker et. al., (2009) noted that, until recently, community service-learning has been underutilised within the Australian higher education system. Within teacher education programs, service-learning has been used primarily as a means of providing real-life experiences for pre-service teachers as well as developing their personal and professional skills. The research conducted in this study focused on ways involvement in a servicelearning experience could contribute to the preparation of pre-service secondary teachers for their first teaching practicum. The participants included Bachelor of Education, Master of Teaching and Graduate Diploma of Education pre-service teachers, all of whom completed a service-learning unit prior to a 10-week practicum. The results indicated that pre-service teachers found that participating in a service-learning program had been of assistance, from both a personal and professional perspective, in helping to meet the challenges of their first practicum.