4. Methodology of the course

4.1. The phases of the Practicum

The Practicum consists of 14 ECTS credits, equivalent to 350 hours of student dedication. This dedication is structured around two types of mandatory activities that take place in a parallel and interrelated manner:

• 250 hours of in-person activity at the educational institution, where students observe and put into practice various dimensions of their teaching practice (the development of didactic programs, the preparation of assessments, the design of competence activities, classroom management, cooperative work, group and individual tutorials, work with the environment, meetings with families, etc.).
• 100 hours of activities through the virtual classroom of the UOC, taking the form of continuous assessment challenges, through which students analyze and evaluate the activities carried out at the educational institution and they reflect about them.

Regarding the activity in the virtual classroom at the UOC, it should be taken into account that the academic period begins in October and lasts until May. Regarding the in-person activity at the educational institution, students join the educational institution from the second week of November and complete their practical training approximately one month before the end of the school year (in April).

The 250 hours of in-person activity at the educational institution are distributed in three distinct phases with different durations. The exact distribution of the total hours for the three phases is specified in the work plan that the student must agree upon with the educational institution’s mentor at the beginning of the practical training. This work plan must also be presented to the professor of the Practicum course at the University for validation. The three phases of the Practicum are as follows:

1. The observation phase has a duration of 2 to 3 weeks, overall 40-45 hours.
   This period involves students starting to attend the practical training educational institution and familiarizing themselves with the space. The students establish a first contact with the environment of the educational institution and analyze in depth the organizational and managerial aspects, the relationship with the environment, the coordination with external services, the different professional roles involved, and also the roles and functions of their mentorship.
2. The accompanied intervention phase has a duration of 5 to 6 weeks, overall 125-130 hours.
   In this second period, students carry out specific interventions with teachers, students and families, with the support and supervision of the educational institution’s mentor. , Simultaneously, they receive guidance and feedback from the Practicum professor. At this stage, students also plan the educational interventions and design the learning scenarios that they will apply later, with the support of the mentor.
3. The independent intervention phase has a duration of 3 to 5 weeks, overall 80-90 hours.
   In this third and final phase, the students implement the intervention or learning scenario designed in the previous phase and monitor and evaluate its effectiveness. They will also take the role of teachers responsible for a group of students or oversee the intervention, making appropriate decisions for classroom management and reflecting on their own teaching practice.