Field Experiences (Pre-Student and Student Teaching)
Field Experiences are defined as a range of formal, required school and community activities participated in by students who are enrolled in teacher preparation programs. The experiences take place in collaborative, educational settings to give candidates an understanding of the values, cultures and working styles of learning communities (The Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2008).
The School of Education takes great pride in the level of extensive clinical and field-based experiences that undergraduate pre-service teacher candidates have prior to their certification. Students in teacher certification programs have many opportunities to experience the classroom setting and thus gain ample exposure and experience necessary for a career in education. Nearly every pedagogy-based course will have at least one clinical, field-based experience.This allows candidates the opportunity to put into “practice” the learned teaching skills and evaluate their PreK-12 students first hand in preparation for their Student Teaching Experiences. In addition, The Pennsylvania Department of Education requires 190 hours of pre-service experiences prior to Student Teaching, the full-time, twelve week, capstone experience, which each candidate must complete prior to certification. Furthermore, from the initial course in their academic career at Drexel, through their culminating student teaching experience, each candidate will develop a professional portfolio containing artifacts collected from their field experiences, that demonstrate evidence of their growth and understanding in the teaching profession, as well as examples of what they believe to be evidence of their high caliber of work.
During the differing field experiences prior to student teaching, candidates will experience a progressive increase of hands-on experiences. Each level of experience will become more intensive, requiring the candidates to gradually assume more responsibility in the context of the classroom. Listed below are the four stages of required field experiences.
Stage I: Observation (20 hours)
During the first stage of field experiences, candidates will observe in a variety of education and education-related settings. Candidates are required to be active observers, and to assist the classroom teachers wherever needed, such as helping to coordinate classroom activities and supporting individual learners. During this experience, the candidate will keep an observation log, which will be signed by the host teacher. Candidates will also complete written reflections based on his/her experiences. The candidates will meet weekly with the course instructor and discuss their experiences, as all field experiences are linked to current courses and practices. The following courses are linked to Tier 1 observations:
- EDUC 121: Child Development II: For Candidates seeking Elementary Certification (PreK-4)
or
- EDUC 123: Adolescent Development: For Candidates Seeking Elementary Certification (4-8) and Secondary Candidates(7-12)
Stage II: Exploration (20 hours)
This stage is also referred to as the “assistant” phase of the required field experiences. In this stage of field experiences, candidates are working with small groups as well as working with individuals. Through this experience, students learn about the school community, and carefully follow the policies and regulations of the school. Similar to the Observation Stage, candidates in this stage will also keep an ongoing log of their classroom experiences and connect theory to practice through their linked School of Education courses. Students will complete these hours in the context of their required courses for Adaptations and Accommodations for Diverse Learners. These include:
- EDUC 142: Special Education Foundations
- EDUC 265: Instruction of English Language Learners
Stage III: Pre-StudentTeaching (150 hours)
During this third stage of field experiences, the candidate will further their skills in teaching small group and whole group lessons, under the supervision of a certified classroom teacher. At least one of the placements in the pre-student teaching stage will be in an inclusive setting. During the pre-student teaching experience, candidates will develop skills in creating learning communities, applying research-based pedagogy, designing standards-based lessons and units, integrating technology into instruction, classroom management and discipline, responsiveness to cultural diversity, identification of learning resources, and identification of current educational issues. The pre-student teaching experiences are closely integrated with course work. Pre-student teaching required elements include but are not limited to; reflective journal, lesson plans and observation and feedback by a university supervisor. The 150 required hours will be distributed through the candidates’ required methods courses, depending upon the concentration chosen by the candidate [elementary (PreK-4), elementary education (4-8) or secondary education (7-12)].
Stage IV: Student Teaching (minimum 420 hours)
Student teaching is a full-time, 12-week field placement in a carefully selected school under the immediate supervision of a highly competent Cooperating Teacher, in selected cases a classroom-based adjunct clinical instructor, a Drexel University Field Supervisor and the general supervision of the Drexel University Field Experience Coordinator. It approximates full-time teaching and is viewed as a culminating experience that provides opportunity to demonstrate what was learned in the professional education courses.
Student Teachers are expected to be committed to excellence in the development of their proficiency as an outstanding teacher. The Student Teacher is a representative of both the University and the teaching profession and in this capacity is expected to uphold high standards of personal and professional standards and ethics.
The twelve weeks devoted to student teaching is a full student load. Student Teachers are to be free from outside responsibilities so that they can function as a full-time member of the staff in the school to which they have been assigned. The required Seminar component, which is linked to the school-based field experience, is conducted under the course EDUC 412: Student Teaching for full-time campus-based students or EDUC 410: Student Teaching for part-time or online undergraduates. (Graduate students should review the Field Experience link under Graduate Programs.)
Deadlines and related policies and requirements may be found at Field Experiences Resources.
