Research Articles

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https://dir.muni.ac.ug/handle/20.500.12260/7

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Browsing Research Articles by Author "Akwongo, Betty"

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    Learning to teach and teaching to learn: examining the effectiveness of school practice in improving student teachers’ pedagogical practices in Uganda
    (International Journal of Education and Social Science Research, 2021-05) Omara, Polycarp; Akwongo, Betty; Asega, Joseph; Ecuru, Paul; Okwong, Davis
    The purpose of the study was to examine the effectiveness of school practice in improving student teachers’ pedagogical practices in West Nile, Uganda. Specifically, the study sought to examine the effectiveness of school practice supervision in improving student teachers’ planning and preparation skills; presentation and delivery skills and determine the effectiveness of school practice supervision in improving student teachers’ self-evaluation skills, which forms the frame work of quality teaching and learning process. The study was conducted among Muni university final year student teachers pursuing Bachelor of science with education. Concurrent mixed method research was employed to collect data from school practice supervisors (n=12) and final year student teachers (n=46). Quantitative data was collected using pretested, standardised supervisors’ assessment forms. Qualitative data was gathered by identification of major themes from the school practice reports by each student teacher and during debriefing meeting after school practice using Focused Group Discussion. Findings revealed that professionally conducted school practice supervision greatly enhanced student teachers’ lesson preparation and planning, lesson delivery and presentation, and selfevaluation skills. However, some student teachers still demonstrated low competence in record management and use of instructional materials. The study therefore, recommended that mentors at all levels should put emphasis on ensuring that student teachers exhibit high level of creativity and innovativeness in the entire teaching learning process, if universities are to transform education system in our country. Supervisors should treat school practice as a non-judgmental, but rather, a mentorship exercise tailored towards the professional growth of student teachers. Enforcement of strict adherence to the quality assurance standards on the organization and management of school practice in education training institutions by National Council for Higher Education should be ensured through standardised quality checks and monitoring program.
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    Learning to teach in the era of uncertainties: challenges and lessons learnt by student teachers during Covid-19 pandemic in Uganda
    (European Journal of Education Studies, 2022-04) Omara, Polycarp; Akwongo, Betty
    The global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is not only being felt by different social classes of people, but also across levels of education systems. There was a paradigm shift from the traditional teaching approaches to a more flexible one, including remote teaching. This crisis uncovered the many challenges in the education system such as access and lack of supportive environments for both teachers and learners. The teacher trainees were greatly affected as they could hardly complete their teacher training programme in time. The purpose of this study was to investigate student teachers’ perception of teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, to explore challenges faced by student teachers; document lessons learnt and coping strategies improvised while teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic. A concurrent mixed method design was adopted. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected from 46-year three student teachers of Muni University. Data were collected using student teachers’ reflective journals and reflective meetings. Challenges experienced by student teachers were related to placement, supervisor-supervisee relationship, inadequate support from school authorities, inadequate skills in classroom room management and time management. Student teachers adopted coping strategies like teamwork, collaborative and adaptive skills, classroom and discipline management. Four categories of lessons learnt were adaptiveness, collaboration, creativity and uniqueness of learners. They learnt how to incorporate modern approaches including those embedded in Bloom’s taxonomy. The study recommended that teacher training institutions should ensure adequate and wholistic preparation of student teachers prior to school practice; school practice supervisors should treat school practice supervision as a non-judgemental exercise meant to enhance student teachers’ professional growth, and school authorities should provide required materials and mentorship to student teachers.