What was expected, what was found? On the tip of the iceberg: Online teaching practicum


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Kazaz İ., Alagözlü N.

TURKISH ONLINE JOURNAL OF DISTANCE EDUCATION, cilt.27, sa.1, ss.212-239, 2026 (ESCI, Scopus)

Özet

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the expectations of pre-service English teachers from online teaching practicum and

their reactions upon completion under Kirkpatrick Training Evaluation Theoretical Framework to find out

whether it was successfully administered in Turkiye setting. The experimental study design aimed to identify

problems underlying online teaching practicum and suggest solutions for future generations. 356 participants

were incorporated into the study. A pilot study was conducted initially. Pre-practicum expectation and

post-practicum reaction scales were formed after the items were revised by three field experts. Scales were

developed via conducting Exploratory Factor Analysis and Confirmatory Factor Analysis. The data were

gathered from six different state universities at six different regions across Turkiye with 4th grade English

Language Teaching students who were taking the School Experience courses. KMO value and Bartlett

Sphericity Test were performed. The expectation scale had 0.96 and reaction scale had 0.98 Cronbach alpha

reliability. The validated scales were administered to 41 teacher candidates to see if their expectations were

met. Every week the candidates were asked to do peer and self-evaluation as well. According to Pearson

correlation (p>0.050) expectations of the pre-service teachers were not met. Friedman Regression analysis

over self and peer evaluation showed success increased from the first to the fourth practice in time. Spearman’s

Rho correlation found significant positive high correlation between the general self-assessment score and

the peer-assessment general score. (r=0,735; p<0,001). Preliminary analyses were conducted not to violate

the assumptions of normality, linearity, multicollinearity and homoscedasticity. A second Spearman’s Rho

analysis over the self, peer, final evaluation grades searched for predictors of success. One Sample T-test for

the self-evaluation and One Sample Runs test for peer evaluation measured whether candidates were given

fair grades in final evaluation. 88.26. mean value obtained with T-test was significantly lower than the final

score of 95 (p<0.001) indicating the mentor teachers and academicians graded candidates more than they did

for themselves. 90.4. median value obtained with Runs test for the general peer evaluation score (p>0.050)

indicated that the peers were harsh criticizers on each other and gave lower grades compared to the mentors

and academicians. All in all, it was demonstrated that online practicum was incapable of preparing the pre-

service teachers for their future professions owing to unforeseen problems during the process.