REFLECTION ON MY EXPERIENCE AS A PHYSICAL SCIENCE TEACHER DURING INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME

REFLECTION ON MY EXPERIENCE AS A PHYSICAL SCIENCE TEACHER DURING INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME

“Teaching is a profession that creates all other professions”

Embarking on the journey of a teaching internship marked a pivotal moment in my educational career, signifying the bridge between theory and practice in the realm of pedagogy. This immersive experience unfolded over a duration of four months, within the vibrant halls of St. Teresa’s CGHSS Ernakulam. This institution, with its diverse student body and dynamic teaching environment, became the canvas upon which I painted my first strokes as an aspiring educator.

               Teachers play a very important role in shaping the future of their students. Right from kindergarten to university, they are the ones who impart knowledge and teach us about everything important. Moreover, they also teach us about ethical values and imbibe in our moral values. Thus, we can say that teachers shape our personality into something very strong and wonderful. A world without teachers would be definitely chaotic. There are only a few people in our lives who impact our world, and teachers are definitely one of them.

                  During the course of a B.Ed. degree, prospective teachers are given the opportunity to walk into schools and teach students in a classroom environment. This gives real-life classroom exposure about the experience of teaching and what all challenges they could potentially face.

                  The main aim to pursue a B.Ed. degree is to learn how to teach. Many of us have a vast amount of knowledge but when it comes to imparting it to others, it is a completely different cup of tea. This is what a B.Ed. course exactly helps us to do. Hence, in the course, the prospective teachers are taught how to gain attention of the students so that they try to learn the knowledge the teachers impart.

                As part of the B.Ed. curriculum, I got a chance to do 4 months internship programme at St. Teresa’s CGHSS Ernakulam from 8th August 2023 to 28th November 2023. Prior to internship, I did my one-month induction at the same school. So, I was much familiar with the school environment and management. 

St. Teresa's Convent Girls Higher Secondary School is one of the reputed schools in Ernakulam. The school has a holistic education system that empowers girl students to actively participate and contribute their best in community life. For the past century this prestigious institution has been moulding young women from different strata of the society. Their expert hands have equipped our students with imperative skills needed by them to showcase their skills and capabilities.

St. Teresa’s School is the result of a vision, the seeds of which was planted by Mother Teresa of St. Rose of Lima, when she started St. Teresa’s School in 1887. She was a great educationalist and a humane social worker. Her remarkable contribution to the society was empowering women through education. In education, her vision went beyond her times, aiming for the formation of a complete human person with a sense of responsibility to the society and to the nation. She focused on faith formation through education. 

Six teacher trainees including myself got opportunity to perform internship at the same school. Upon receiving the official letter from our college, we went to see the headmistress of the school. Sr. Dannie was the headmistress in charge. She cordially welcomed us and provided us our concerned teachers.

Since I’m a Physical Science teacher trainee, I got opportunity to teach both physics and chemistry. Mrs. Elizabeth Sherine and Mrs. Seena D were my teachers in charge.

I was assigned to teach chemistry to the students of classes 9B, 9C, 9D, 9E, 9F ,8E and physics to class 9E & 9F. I received my time table and started preparing accordingly. I had a total of 16 hours per week.

 During the internship programme, I was able to recognise the important role a teacher plays in the political and socio-cultural systems and most importantly, in the education system. Additionally, I also get to understand culturally-diverse scenarios. Embarking on a teaching internship, the cornerstone lies in meticulously preparing and executing 50 lesson plans for 8th, 9th grade students in physics and chemistry. This process transcends a mere academic exercise; it epitomizes the essence of pedagogical artistry, embodying the educator's profound impact on young minds. 

Firstly, the preparation of these lesson plans demands an intricate dance between curriculum guidelines, pedagogical innovations, and a nuanced understanding of the students' cognitive development at different grade levels. Crafting objectives that resonate with each age group becomes paramount, ensuring a tailored approach that meets the educational needs of diverse learners.

My sixteen weeks of school internship has been the most informational and inspiring experience in my life. It was a special event in my life. I learned a lot about myself as a teacher, my strengths and my weakness. Both physics and chemistry classes were taken during the period of school internship. The students possessed their unique personalities and set of circumstance therefore it made for an interesting and often challenging period. Throughout my school internship, I sought out to design lesson plans based on the individual needs of each of my students. I was happy to have in company 5 student teachers from other optional who became the part of my teaching experience. Because of them student teaching has been fun and collaborative.

 Throughout the school internship I was able to create a really great atmosphere in my classrooms. I was a little worried about a few of my classes early on, but as I got to know the students better and establish relationships with them, the problems mostly vanished.

I looked for activities that my students would enjoy and I made sure that I had all of the materials and other things that I needed before class started. The senior teachers were assisted me and helped me very lot during the period of internship. I learned many things through my student teaching experience, which will shape the way I teach for years to come. The biggest and most important thing I learned during student teaching is to be confident. In the beginning of the internship, I was a little timid with my students, even while presenting them information that I know backwards and forwards. After a couple weeks, however, I was more comfortable in front of the class. once I gained my confidence in the class, I had more fun with teaching, and my students had more fun as well. I was able to prepare learning materials. Presentation of learning materials were encouraged the students. classroom management was another area which I learned a lot about during student teaching. My biggest take away about classroom management is the relationship piece. W hen I started building better relationships with my students, there was an obvious correlation to classroom management improvements. The students listened and respected me more, so there were less distractions and negative behaviour. And also I was able to handled activity based classes.

 Throughout this period, I engaged in a diverse range of practical activities, including designing achievement tests, conducting diagnostic assessments, leading remedial classes, organizing club activities, and participating in peer evaluations. Each facet contributed to a holistic understanding of the teaching profession, unveiling the intricacies of pedagogy and the profound impact educators can have on students' lives.

During my internship I was able to conduct achievement test for the students of 9th standard after which I covered two chapters. For that I set a blue print of the question paper, prepared the question paper and answer key and conducted the test. I was happy that students learned well and took the test seriously and majority of students had scored above average for the test. For those students who scored below average, a diagnostic test was conducted in order to know their problematic area. It was conducted after a time gap. For that test, ample time was given to them. After the test, the difficult areas of each student was identified and a remedial class was conducted for them so as to make the missed portions thorough for them.

 The experience of implementing LAC lesson plans during my teacher training underscored the interconnectedness of language and content learning. Engaging in language across the curriculum (LAC) lesson plans during my teacher training proved to be an enriching journey that reshaped my perspective on the integration of language skills into subject-specific content., The approach fostered a holistic learning environment, where language development became intrinsic to understanding and communicating complex concepts. The focus on oral communication was a highlight, fostering an environment where students actively participated in discussions, debates, and presentations. This not only enhanced their spoken language skills but also nurtured critical thinking and collaborative learning. Students learned to communicate effectively, articulate their thoughts, and engage in meaningful dialogues. 

Engaging in club activities further broadened my perspective on education. Whether facilitating a science club, literary society, or sports team, I witnessed the power of extracurricular engagement in fostering holistic development. These experiences reinforced the idea that education extends beyond the confines of textbooks, emphasizing the role of educators in nurturing diverse talents and interests among students. In association with science club, I conducted science club activities – poster designing competition on ‘ozone day’ and quiz competition on ‘Astronomy day’. Pupil were very active and interested to took part in the same. Their energy was a booster dose my happiness.

By conducting action research on the topic “Study on difficulties faced by students to memorize chemical symbols”, I was able to help the pupil to find an easy way to learn chemical symbols. This also developed an interest in learning elements in periodic table.

 Administering a self-assessment tool among students during my teaching internship proved to be an enlightening experience, shedding light on both the efficacy of my teaching methods and the individual learning journeys of my students. Implementing the self-assessment tool was a deliberate step toward fostering student autonomy and self-reflection. This experience underscored the symbiotic relationship between teacher and student. 

Peer evaluation brought a collaborative dimension to my internship. Assessing and being assessed by fellow interns provided a valuable feedback loop, fostering a culture of continuous improvement. This process encouraged reflective practice, prompting me to critically examine my teaching methods and incorporate constructive feedback to refine my approach. 

Apart from pedagogy works, awareness classes on ‘Kindness’ and ‘Respect’ was taken. Case study was performed and health education as well as yoga classes were also provided for the students. The class on different art forms were also taken for the students of St. Teresa’s CGHSS Ernakulam. 

Observation and celebrations of various days such as Independence Day, Teachers Day, Science Day, Environmental Health day, Ozone Day, Nagasaki-Hiroshima day etc were performed and presented before the students. I had got an opportunity to be honoured as teacher on the auspicious day celebrated on September 5 as Teacher’s day. It was indeed a proud moment for me.

 I had the opportunity to coordinate the arts competition conducted during the Teresian week. This was a new experience in my life and also this was also helped me as a teacher.

 I had I felt some difficulties in teaching during the internship. Low voice and imperfections of black board writing was affected my classes. But very soon I was able to improve these qualities. As a teacher I wish to win the hearts of my students. I want them to be inspired, to be genuinely motivated to learn. I want them to remember me as a kind of teacher who has made them learn not by coercion but rather by inspiration. To be honest, I teach not for my superiors to be impressed of me. I teach for my students. They are my honest and sincere critics. This drives me to improve myself more and more every single day that I am a teacher.  

Collaborating with experienced educators unveiled the importance of mentorship. Their insights and constructive feedback were invaluable in refining my pedagogical methods. Classroom management, a skill often underestimated, became an intricate dance of authority and approachability. Technology played a pivotal role in enhancing the learning experience. Integrating interactive simulations and multimedia resources brought abstract concepts to life, capturing students' attention and fostering a deeper understanding.. Beyond textbooks and exams, instilling a love for discovery and inquiry emerged as the true measure of success. Witnessing students' eyes light up with comprehension underscored the essence of being an educator.

In conclusion, my internship as a Physical Science teacher was a mosaic of challenges and triumphs, shaping me into a more adept and empathetic educator. Embracing the complexities of the teaching profession, I learned that fostering a holistic approach to science education goes beyond the curriculum, it involves inspiring the next generation of curious minds. 

28th November 2023, was a day of mixed emotions. It was the last day of our internship programme. I entered to my assigned classes and asked them to write feedback, Their feedback makes me sad and I was overwhelmed to listen to their responses. I together with my co teacher trainees bid farewell to the school authority and whole heartedly thanked them for their unconditional support and motivation throughout the internship programme.

When I look back, I can figure out the various improvements I made in my first step as a ‘teacher’. A teacher is such an important creature in the life of a student, who through his knowledge, patience and love give a strong shape to a student’s whole. In short, it was memorable and precious days in my life as an aspiring teacher. I really enjoyed the overall experience. The internship days had taught me a lot and gave me so many beautiful memories that I will always cherish.