Assessing the Online Practicum of Library and Information Science Students: Basis for Blended Internship

Abstract

Internships provide students in higher education institutions with a way to get real-world experience and business skills relevant to their field of study. The internship has caught the attention of higher education programs as a significant component of contemporary pedagogy because it is an experiential learning activity. The study aimed to assess the online practicum of library and information science students to serve as a basis for offering a blended internship. The study utilized a concurrent mixed-methods type of research which provided an integrated, thorough grasp of the topic under inquiry by using the strengths of both qualitative and quantitative approaches while addressing their flaws. The study's respondents are the 138 Library and Information Science (LIS) students who graduated from S.Y. 2020-2021 to 2021-2022. It adopted a validated instrument that assesses the internship program. The results of the quantitative data showed that the internship program inspired their personal aspects (4.41), interpersonal-social (4.49), academic (4.40), employment-specific (4.18), and civic (4.20). It indicates that the student-interns found the online internship compelling. However, the qualitative data results came up with the following themes: (1) poor internet connection and communication issues were their most challenging experienced while doing their online internship. (2) patience and time management for the best solution to their problem. They likewise advised future interns to listen to their superiors and constantly focus during their training. Furthermore, most respondents approved and recommended the offering of blending learning. Thus, the researchers crafted a revised internship program for the Library and Information Science students.