Bluffton University field experiences program is designed to give candidates a chance to explore their chosen profession through three phases. The first phase is EXPLORATORY. This early field experience allows candidates to observe and assist teachers in classrooms and offers candidates a variety of settings in which to decide if this is the level and subject area that best suits them. The second phase is FOCUSED and allows candidates to start to use the skills that are being developed in coursework on campus as they begin to teach short lessons and help with more classroom duties. Practicum and clinical experience are INTENSIVE field experiences (third phase) that provide each candidate with a mentor but also allow him/her to try his/her own wings and work independently in a classroom.
The adolescent/young adult program requires field experiences in the following courses:
| I. | Exploratory Field Experiences | Hours |
| EDU 200 | Introduction to Teaching in a Dirverse Society | 50 |
| (EDU 205 - field experience) | ||
| PSY 254 | Educational Psychology and Classroom Assessment | 15 |
| SED 220 | The Adolescent: Development and Diversity | 4 |
| ACCESS | Field experience in a diverse setting | 50 |
| II. | Focused Field Experiences | |
| EDU 332 | Social & Philsophical Issues in Education | 10 |
| EDU 305 | Content Area Literacy/General Methods | 10 |
| III. | Intensive Field Experiences | |
| EDU 344 | Adolescent/Young Adult Classroom Organization | 45 |
| EDU 401-4 | Adolescent/Young Adult Special Methods | 45 |
| (Choose one in own area) | ||
| EDU 451 | Clinical Experience: Adolescent/Young Adult | 300 |
| Total Field Hours | 525 |
The Clinical Practice will provide: a minimum of ten weeks working in a 7-12 classroom in area of major, mentored by a certified/licensed, experienced teacher and a university/college supervisor. (Ohio Department of Education).
EDU 205-Field Experience (Introduction to Teaching in a Diverse Society)
Candidates will be assigned to a diverse classroom appropriate to their licensure area. Candidates will help the teacher in the classroom and complete a journal, interviews and a final observation report. 50 field hours.
PSY 254-Educational Psychology and Classroom Assessment
Candidates are to work with students 15 hours in a school setting at the grade level appropriate to their license. Candidates will also conduct two interviews and present their findings in a written report. 15 field hours.
EDU 305-Content Area Literacy/General Methods
Students will focus on developing technical content vocabulary and techniques for improved comprehension. While in the field, students will observe general teaching techniques, strategies and methods for maximizing learning for typical and at-risk students, curriculum development and implementation, communication skills required of adolescents and the interdisciplinary nature of disciplines. 10 field hours.
EDU 332-Social and Philosophical Issues in Education
Candidates will be given options to visit various teaching sites and will go as a group on one field trip to visit an alternative school. A one page summary and one page reflection will be written for each. 10 field hours.
EDU 344-Adolescent/Young Adult Classroom Organization
As part of the block with the clinical experience (student teaching) students will spend three days a week in their assigned classroom observing teacher and student behaviors, discipline in the educational process and communication techniques for good classroom management. This course, along with special methods (401-4) leads into full-time teaching as part of the clinical practice (EDU 451). 45 field hours.
EDU 401-4 –Adolescent/young Adult Special Methods
Candidates register for their major area and focus on development, implementation and evaluation of educational programming for those areas. While in the field students will use/practice technology, individualization of instruction, teaming, development of integrated units and collaboration under the guidance of the cooperating teacher. This block of two courses (EDU 344 and EDU 401, 402, 403, or 404)leads into full-time teaching as part of the clinical practice EDU 451. 45 field hours
EDU 451-Clinical Practice (Student teaching)
This clinical practice provides supervised experiences in applying the principles and techniques learned in the professional courses to actual classroom situations under the guidance and direction of a cooperating teacher. Candidates are in assigned classrooms 10 weeks, full days, for a minimum of 300 field hours.
SED 220-The Adolescent: Development and Diversity
The field experience in this course provides candidates the opportunity to observe young adolescents or adolescents as the candidates gain an understanding of typical and typical developmental needs of the students with whom they will work. Candidates complete 4 hours of field experience.
ACCESS (available to students beginning Fall semester 2003) is a focused field experience opportunity for teacher education candidates to enhance experiences in classrooms by working with diverse students and faculty in a variety of settings. This program consists of 50 hours of self-directed and self-selected programming in a school setting with a student/faculty composition that can be designated as ‘diverse’ according to standards established by the Education Department at Bluffton University. This field experience is a requirement for students entering the program fall semester 2003 and later.
The objective for this additional field experience is to provide distinct opportunities for teacher education candidates when working with diverse students and faculty in P-12 settings. These opportunities will supplement existing field based experiences.
Candidates will use this opportunity to add to their experiences with children and teachers. Each will submit an action plan to be approved by either their academic advisor (for Early Childhood, Middle Childhood, or Intervention Specialist licenses) or by the Director of Teacher Education or designee and then document 50 hours of working with diverse students and/or faculty in a P-12 setting. Students will be required to:
Teacher Education candidates can choose from a variety of field experience sites. The following is a recommended list of experiences/opportunities:
