Fieldwork Experiences in Special Education and Rehabilitation Centers: A Qualitative Approach to the Perspective of Child Development Students

Aim: This study examines the experiences of child development students who had done fieldwork at various rehabilitation centers through a qualitative approach. The aim of the research was to reveal the experiences and problems encountered by the students in the institutions. Method: To collect data, a set of questions were prepared and asked using a semi-structured face-to-face interview method. The study was conducted with 15 child development students who interned at special education and rehabilitation centers. The data was later analyzed using MAXQDA. Results: Five main themes emerged in the data; theory-practice discrepancy, suggestions, insufficiencies, diversity, and experience. It was observed that special education and rehabilitation centers were generally perceived as inadequate by the fieldwork participants, but the fieldwork process itself is deemed valuable due to the opportunity to use theoretical knowledge in practice. Conclusion: Universities should clarify fieldwork guidelines and create effective feedback mechanisms to align student experiences with learning goals