Teacher Education Program Handbook Page 0 - Simpson College

Clinical Field Experience Program
An integral part of the Education Department's philosophy is the belief that students must
have multiple opportunities to observe and practice teaching in a variety of settings. The field
experience program allows students to observe a variety of teaching and learning styles and
approaches, and it offers an opportunity for students to practice what they have learned in college
classes. The Simpson College Education Program includes a graduated sequence of field based
placements.
Exploratory field experiences begin with the first education course--Foundations of
Education (Education 114) or Orientation to the Teacher Education Program (Education 129T).
During this class, students observe teachers and students during a ten hour field experience in a
local elementary school. A similar experience at the secondary level is part of Educ 222
Assessment, Planning, and Teaching. These field experiences allow all students to experience
teaching and learning at a variety of levels and in a variety of subjects as they explore becoming
a professional educator.
Elementary: Advanced practica experiences vary depending of the endorsements that a
student is seeking. Elementary education students participate, at a minimum, in two exploratory
field experiences plus two advanced practica placements during each of the methods classes
(Education 326 and 329 taken concurrently with 300, 303, 304, and 305). Most endorsement
programs require additional clinical experience.
Secondary and Specialty Areas: Secondary students experience practica during their
general and content specific methods courses (Education 316 and the course from the Education
340’s for their content area). Specialty (art, music, and P.E.) education students complete field
experiences during their methods courses and/or during an advanced practicum during May term.
During advanced practica, students graduate to an expanded experience that provides
opportunities for assisting and teaching.
The culminating field experience occurs during a full semester of student teaching when
students assume full-time teaching responsibilities. Students are placed with and mentored by an
area teacher. The college assigns a student teaching supervisor who visits, observes, and mentors
the student teacher as well. Student teachers are observed, at a minimum, every other week. The
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