Abstract

Experiential learning requires teacher educators to equip trainee teachers with opportunities for effective preparedness in teaching and professional subjects, co-curricular activities and in micro-teaching vital for professional development. The experiential learning opportunities, conditional knowledge, preparedness and performance during teaching practice provide basis for predicting professional competence and success for effective teaching. Conditional knowledge entails application of critical thinking and problem solving skills that demonstrate mastery of theoretical knowledge and professional practice across, content, knowledge, skills and insights. This type of knowledge and skills are developed through experiential learning coupled with effective preparedness for real-class instructional management. However, inadequate preparation in educational courses coupled with improper supervision and feedback impede effective professional development in most universities. The study explored effectiveness of experiential learning and conditional knowledge in trainee teacher preparedness for teaching practice at the University of Nairobi. Experiential Learning Theory formed the framework for this study. A descriptive survey research design was adopted with a population of 78 trainee teachers selected using simple random sampling. Data were gathered through a questionnaire. Finding showed that trainee teachers are adequately prepared for teaching practice. The study recommends proper orientation for trainee teachers to be carried out with effective preparedness that aligns theory to practice.

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