Educational Field Experiences
Pre-Student Teaching Educational Field Experiences
The purpose of pre-student teaching field experiences is to give students pursuing teacher education an intentional, systematic, planned sequence of experiences in appropriate educational settings. These experiences are designed to familiarize students with principles of classroom management and the teaching-learning process in practical and real school environments and to help them learn how to teach.The pre-student teaching field experiences culminate in such coures as EDEL 300; EDEL 350; EDJH 385; EDSE 380; SPCE 361, or departmental equivalents. These types of courses require a collaborative classroom, in an appropriate educational settings for the semester to observe, prepare instructional presentations, and undertake other instructional tasks appropriate for candidates before student teaching.
The university provides laboratory settings for pre-student teaching educational field experiences in the on-campus Burris Laboratory School as well as in public school partners in Muncie and others within commuting distance.
Student Teaching
Student teaching in Indiana gives candidates an opportunity to develop teaching competence under the supervision of professionally licensed mentor teachers collaborating with the university in the student teaching program.
Evaluation in student teaching is measured using a performance assessment instrument completed by the mentor teacher in collaboration with the University supervisor. The final grade in student teaching is recorded as credit/no credit.
Application for Student Teaching
Students should apply for student teaching during the academic year before they plan to student teach. Contact the Office of Teacher Education Services and Clinical Practice for additional information.
Official notification of the student teaching assignment will be emailed to the student. In addition, students can view their placement status in Tk-20 at any time. Final eligibility is determined after final grades are posted just prior to student teaching.
General Considerations
Students must be free of outside commitments that might interfere with full-time student teaching obligations. Students should not be regularly employed, nor should they carry heavy loads of extracurricular activities. Enrollment for course overload during the semester is permitted only with approval of the Executive Director of the Office of Teacher Education Services and Clinical Practice.
Student teaching requirements also include a set number of days in seminars required by the teaching preparation unit.
Students are intentionally placed at a reasonable commuting distance with a preapproved mentor teacher within our Clinical Practice Network. Final determination of the student's assignment will rest with the Office of Teacher Education Services and Clinical practice. The placement process requires close partnership with our Professional Development Schools, Partner Schools, and affiliate schools.
All undergraduate candidates pursuing licensure as teachers are required to spend 16 weeks in full-time student teaching. They must register for 12 credits in student teaching.
The only exception is a candidate who is double majoring in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education. All candidates pursuing these double majors are required to spend 18 credits/24 weeks in student teaching across two semesters. They must register for 12 credits in one semester (fall or spring = 16 weeks ) and then 6 credits in another semester (fall, spring, or summer = 8 weeks).