@article{article_241561, title={EVALUATING PRACTICUM EXPERIENCES OF EARLY CHİLDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAM FROM STUDENTS’ PERSPECTIVE}, journal={Kastamonu Education Journal}, volume={21}, pages={1661–1674}, year={2016}, author={Duman, Gökhan}, keywords={anaokulu, öğretmenlik uygulaması, aday öğretmen}, abstract={The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prospective kindergarten teachers’ practicum experiences. For this purpose, prospective teachers’ challenging subjects were determined using prospective teacher evaluation form and the reasons of those challenges were determined. Besides, their problems during practicum experiences, related to faculty and school cooperation, were presented in the collaboration context. One of the qualitative methods, case study, was organized as a research model. Data were collected from eleven prospective teachers (n=11) attending to early childhood education program in two different public universities. They were analyzed descriptively to gain the most information from prospective teachers. Results indicated that prospective teachers were having serious difficulty in measurement matters. Prospective teachers did not adequately plan the measurement tools for evaluating goals and objectives, and children’s’ achievement. They also did not adequately set appropriate measurement tools for children. Results also showed that one of the major problems prospective teachers’ had in collaboration context was job definition. They stated that their work was sometimes quite different from what it should be. Other issues in professional development and in the collaboration context explored and presented in the study. The study also put unique characteristics of early childhood program such as play based curriculum and activities. It is expected that this study will enlighten the policy makers to regulate practicum courses effectively.}, number={4}, publisher={Kastamonu Üniversitesi}