Immersion Experiences of Teacher Education Students in Conducting Indigenous Studies

Indigenous studies is a popular research interest among social studies teacher education students, emphasizing the importance of properly educating them to conduct these studies and prepare them for immersion experiences. This study explores the experiences of teacher education students during their immersion in Indigenous studies in Bataan and proposes instructional support to enhance sustainable practices for future researchers. Utilizing phenomenological research, student teachers who have conducted Indigenous studies were purposefully interviewed. The results demonstrate that despite encountering challenges, these immersion experiences gave students valuable first-hand knowledge, personal growth, and a deeper understanding of Indigenous cultures. These findings underscore the need for instructional support, as suggested in the study, to better equip teacher education students to support and promote Indigenous studies.