Investigating the educational gaps: a comparative analysis of intended, implemented and acquired curricula in the internship process

This research examines educational gaps in the field of intended, implemented and acquired curricula in the internship process. The main purpose of this study is the comparative analysis of these three types of curriculum and identifying their strengths and weaknesses in creating effective and practical learning for students.

By using a mixed exploratory approach (qualitative (phenomenology and thematic analysis) and quantitative (based on surveys), information about the experiences of students and instructors (mentors and mentor teachers) in the internship was collected and analyzed.

The results of this research in the qualitative part of three basic themes with categories containing: educational gaps (incompatibility of curriculum content, real challenges), educational needs (lack of soft skills, need for practical learning, need for management skills, lack of innovation in teaching) and environment. Internship (need for mentors' support, lack of mentors' interaction, need for self-confidence) was extracted as a basis for qualitative data analysis and identification of patterns in the answers. And in the quantitative section, it showed that there are significant gaps between what is intended in the curricula and what is implemented in practice. In the qualitative analysis, the participants pointed out the mismatch between educational objectives and course content. These results confirm quantitative findings and show that there are educational gaps from the point of view of student teachers.

Also, the results were presented separately for each of the curricula and their impact on students' learning and practical abilities. This study can help to modify and improve the curricula in the field of internship and lay the groundwork for designing more effective educational programs.