Abstract

This study investigates practicum students’ challenges and opportunities of online teaching and learning in the time of COVID-19 at the University of Technology and Applied Sciences (UTAS), Al-rustaq, Oman. Utilizing a questionnaire containing quantitative and qualitative questions to 65 practicum students, the most prominent findings of the study were that online teaching helped practicum students to build confidence and equip them with the right skills and strategies to use online teaching platforms (Google Meet & Google Classroom). Also, the online teaching helped students to manage their pace, and use visual clues, affordable e-resources and teaching aids. However, the study found that internet connection and time management were the main challenges in the online teaching. Online teaching hinders them from getting students full attention, assisting them during the activities and promoting collaborative learning during the lesson. As a result, the study provided some recommendations such as providing practicum students with alternative and more interactive platforms and more training on how to utilize them as this strategy has a high potential of enhancing the impact of online teaching on practicum students’ teaching performance. 

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