Teacher Preparation
Field Experience
Field experiences are an integral part of the teacher preparation program. Field experiences are designed to provide teacher candidates with opportunities to view the entire scope of teaching in a classroom setting, and to develop skills and self-confidence necessary to be effective teachers.
Education field experience requires that you make connections between what is learned in class and how that knowledge is applied in practice. You will learn what becoming a teacher requires and you are introduced to the profession of teaching. This early stage involves visits to schools and classrooms to observe the nature of schooling and teaching to get a general knowledge of the role of the schools, classrooms and teachers.
The field experience placement may be in a public or private school. For placement in a public school, Florida statue requires students to undergo a background screening and be fingerprinted through the school board of the county where they wish to be placed. Specific information regarding the cost and procedures about each county’s fingerprinting process is included in the Field Experience Handbook. For students in EDG 2701 and EPI 0945, volunteer work in an agency that works with people of a variety of ages is also acceptable.
The fingerprinting cost associated with the different local counties is denoted below (note: costs updated August 2010). Students should be prepared to pay this amount if requesting placement in the public school systems. Fingerprinting appointments should be scheduled during the first week of class. Detailed procedures for scheduling appointments for the counties notated below are documented within the Field Experience Handbook. The student will have to refer to the school district website for any county that is not listed below.
- Baker County: $57.25
- Clay County: $97.25
- Duval County: $81.25
- Nassau County: $81.25
- St. Johns County: $57.00
The field experience facilitator will assist students with field placement for the courses listed below. By State rule, students enrolled in these courses are required to complete a field experience component in order to successfully pass the course. The required field experience hours for each course are noted below:
| Course ID and Title | Required Field Experience Hours |
|---|---|
| EDF 1005 - Introduction to Education | 18 |
| EDG 2701 - Teaching Diverse Populations | 18 |
| EPI 0940 - The Teaching Profession: Field Experience | 15 |
| EPI 0945 - Diversity in the Classroom: Field Experience | 15 |
All students enrolled in these classes are required to register for field experience during the first week of class. Registration has to be completed within Blackboard and the registration procedures are outlined in the Field Experience Handbook.
Education students should read the Field Experience Handbook and e-mail the field experience facilitator if there are any questions.