Virtual Practice Teaching: Continuing internship in the new normal

The pandemic has undeniably challenged and changed the conduct of many aspects of teaching and learning. Even though physical restrictions are imposed to prevent the spread of the virus, many school activities need to continue as an essential part of students’ learning experience. One of which is the school internship program.

FEU-Institute of Education (FEU-IE) had been sending students abroad for their practice teaching before the pandemic. FEU-IE continued its partnership with the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) through the SEA Teacher Project. During the first semester of AY 2019-2020, Ms. Aira Amis and Ms. Jhayleen Cecista (4^th year students taking up BS Education major in English) did a month-long of practice teaching in Universitas Negeri Malang, Indonesia.

Consequently, FEU-IE also received two students from the University of Education and Muhammadiyah University of Palu of Indonesia for their practice teaching conducted in FEU Senior High School.

As for the current semester of SY2020-2021, FEU-IE partnered with the Indonesian Embassy through the FEU International Relations Office to ensure that students would acquire the necessary learning experience during practice teaching despite physical restrictions. Hence, 4^th year students taking up BS Education major in English were able to conduct their international practice teaching virtually.

Contrastingly, practice teaching students taking up BS Education major in Physical Education and Sports Management were also able to conduct their practice teaching virtually through the partnership with FEU Diliman Basic Education. The student-teachers were deployed to facilitate synchronous and asynchronous classes of elementary up to senior high school, under the supervision of the FEU Diliman faculty members. The practice teaching for this semester is expected to end on the 2^nd week of December 2020.

Ultimately, the coming new year may still bring challenges to the learning activities like practice teaching while the whole world awaits for the COVID-19 vaccine. FEU-IE believe that we ought to maximize all opportunities to find ways for students’ learning to continue.