Field Experiences - Elementary - Undergraduate

Field experiences are imbedded within the Teacher Education Program through a sequence of selected courses. The field experiences are sequenced in such a way that they increase in length and intensity throughout the Teacher Education Program; must be completed over 6-8 weeks as indicated; and must be sequentially completed over four or five semesters. Field experience assignments are to take place in different schools each semester to expose the candidate to as many varied experiences as possible prior to student teaching.

 

 

EDU 210 – 24 hours – Meets 3 hours per week for 4 weeks each in an elementary and secondary school. The pre-candidate may be assigned to one or more teachers in each school setting. This field experience is primarily observational in nature, though the school may ask pre-teacher candidates to tutor, grade papers, or do other non-teaching tasks. Evaluation of the experience is conducted through the cooperating teacher.

 

 

EDU 309 – 36 hours – Meets 6 hours per week for 6 weeks. This assignment involves both observation and increased involvement in a classroom. The teacher candidate is assigned to a specific teacher for the entire experience. Teaching assignments are in conjunction with classroom assignments and increase in responsibility through the six week experience. The teacher candidate will be expected to teach at least one full lesson in the assigned classroom, though more may take place at the discretion of the cooperating teacher. The cooperating teacher must be present in the classroom at all times when the teacher candidate is on site. An evaluation of the teaching assignment is completed by the cooperating teacher and University supervisor

 

 

EDU 430/445/446 – 48 hours– Meets 6 hours per week for 8 weeks. These three courses are taken as a block during the same semester. The assignments involve increased opportunities and responsibilities in a classroom. The teacher candidate is assigned to an appropriate teacher for the semester. Through the 8 week assignment the teacher candidate will be expected to teach at least two complete lessons, though more may be assigned. The evaluation will be completed by the classroom teacher and a University supervisor.

 

EDU 496 – Student Teaching – 16 weeks – The teacher candidate is required to be in attendance at the assigned school every day school is in session, including professional days, meetings, conferences, etc. throughout the experience. A week is defined as a minimum of 3 days that school is in session. If a week is scheduled to have fewer than 3 days, the student is still required to attend each day. Time spent preparing the classroom, attending meetings, etc. before students begin classes is not counted as part of the 16 week experience. The student teacher will experience increased teaching responsibility as outlined in the student teaching handbook. The evaluation is conducted by the cooperating teacher, and assigned University supervisor.