Preparedness of the vocational higher-order thinking skills of pre-service teachers during internship program implementation

This research aims to analyze the vocational higher-order thinking skills (V-HOTS) of pre-service teacher interns at teacher education colleges during an internship at vocational high schools. The research employed mixed methods through (1) observation and evaluation of student preparations, (2) semi-structured interviews on the role of teachers in improving V-HOTS in schools, and (3) distributing questionnaires of students' perceptions to the tenth grade across six vocational high schools divided into two clusters. The results demonstrate that the intern teachers succeeded in mastering V-HOTS according to students' perceptions, where they achieved scores that far exceeded the previously set standards. Further statistical analysis revealed significant differences in perceptions between the two groups of intern teachers (Clusters I and II), indicating variations in the understanding or application of V-HOTS between the two groups. This implies that the pre-service teacher interns in Cluster II have better V-HOTS in implementing internship programs, although the schools in Cluster II are less supportive of information and communication technology (ICT). This research provides insights into the effectiveness of V-HOTS among pre-service teacher interns, suggesting that additional support and resources might be needed in schools that are less supportive of ICT to ensure consistent application of V-HOTS.