Visiting Lecturers: Perceptions of their role in supervising student teachers on practicum

Abstract

One of the key players in student teacher learning on practicum is the visiting lecturer. The purpose of this paper is to document five visiting lecturers’ perceptions of their specific role and contribution to student teacher learning during practicum. The visiting lecturers described their role as one of networking, creating important professional partnerships and relationships between the university and schools. They portrayed their role as a crucial part of the accreditation of a student teacher learning to be a teacher and one which, in their opinion, was a privilege. The data for this qualitative study were gathered using semi-structured individual interviews and document analysis of practicum reports. It will be argued in this paper that the role of the visiting lecturer is an important one and the support for student teachers while on practicum comes through practices such as triadic assessment discussions, professional conversations and feedback based on observations of teaching.