The intervention of online teaching practicum to teachers' sense of self-efficacy

The purpose of this explanatory mixed method study was to investigate the effect of Online Based (OB) and Field Based (FB) teaching practicum experience on student teacher (ST)s' sense of self efficacy levels in instructional strategies, student engagement and classroom management within the Faculty of Education at a private university in Erbil, Iraq. An explanatory mixed method was designed with two treatment groups. Both groups were administrated the Teacher Sense of Self-Efficacy Scale (TSES) theorized by Tschannen-Moran and Hoy (1998). Since the results of the survey was different from what is being expected, a semi structured interview was held with a ST from each department. Results from the t-test demonstrated that the OB group (OBG) students demonstrated a very high-level sense of self-efficacy in terms of instructional strategies, student engagement and classroom management. However, after the interview it was figured out that the FB group (FBG) students improved their self-efficacy in the authentic school environment. This study demonstrated the importance of continuous, appropriate and authentic challenges in eventually establishing a stable sense of self-efficacy among student teachers.