Pre-Service Teachers' Reflections On Community-Based Field Experiences

Abstract

The present research paper studies the reflections of preservice teachers’ community-based field experiences as a feature of teacher education programs. Through a qualitative study, 105 prospective teachers’ working with the community, a 10-day programme is designed to provide an opportunity to prepare a future teaching force for the diverse educational settings that they will encounter in the twenty-first century. This programme has been carried out in two remote villages located near Ajmer district of Rajasthan. The pre service teachers were engaged in various activities, experienced, reflected, conceptualised and applied to solve the problems in the society. The findings of the study include enhanced confidence levels in inquiry and social skills as a result of the community-based field experiences. The participants expressed they could come out of their comfort zones, explore themselves, understand others and also took a resolution of being a contributing member of the society. This not only helped them in their self-development but also prepared them as future teachers.