During the first quarter of the program, candidates complete Virtual Field Experiences (VFETM). During the next several quarters, candidates complete classroom-based field experiences. This part of the handbook focuses on the classroom-based field experience requirements. (For more information about VFE®, refer to the Candidate Guidebook.) The state of Minnesota requires each candidate to complete classroom-based field experience hours prior to DT, which is the culminating field experience requirement.
Classroom-based field experience is an in-classroom, multiweek, part-time experience that provides candidates with the opportunity to learn from experienced teachers. Completion of the MAT EE degree program requires a minimum of 105 hours of classroom-based field experiences.
Important note: Courses with classroom-based field experiences are rarely offered during the first 6 weeks of winter quarter, and are not offered during the 12-week summer quarter.
Placement Requirements
The OFE must approve all placement sites. Candidates will be scheduled to complete field experiences in at least two schools throughout the program.
Candidates Who Work in an Educational Setting
Candidates who work in an educational setting as a teacher of record or paraprofessional may complete a portion of the classroom-based field experience requirements in classrooms that meet the scope and content area of the program at their place of employment—provided all placement requirements are met and approvals are granted. Candidates in this situation will be assigned a qualified host teacher.
If approved by the OFE and school site, candidates who are the teacher of record can complete up to 45 hours in their own classroom. Candidates in this situation must then work with their assigned host teacher and the academic coordinator or designee to meet the following guidelines:
- The host teacher will observe the candidate one time per week. These observations should cover a variety of instructional situations and content areas and may be arranged at the convenience of the host teacher. Feedback regarding the lesson observed should be provided to the candidate.
- The candidate will meet with the host teacher at least two times per week for joint reflection and mentoring.
- The host teacher will complete a host teacher evaluation and timesheet for the candidate at the end of the experience.
If approved by the OFE and school site, candidate who are a paraprofessional can complete up to 45 hours in the classroom where they work provided the teacher of the classroom meets the host teacher qualifications. The teacher of the classroom where the candidate is a paraprofessional must be willing to allow the candidate to help plan and teach lessons in order to complete the field experience assignments for the applicable course(s).
Candidates who are approved to complete up to 45 hours in the classroom where they work as either a teacher of record or paraprofessional must complete the remaining field experience hours in a different setting approved by the OFE.
Walden University recommends that all candidates who work in an educational setting contact their school district human resources office to discuss the school district’s policies regarding employees completing field experience hours. Many school districts do not allow candidates to complete field experience hours without using accrued paid time off.
Diversity
Diversity in field experiences is highly valued. Candidates will be placed in sites that meet a range of exceptionalities and meet the program’s diversity criteria in race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, home language, and learning exceptionalities. The OFE will research schools and place candidates in at least one site classified as diverse. Placements will be tracked by the OFE to ensure candidates have experience in diverse settings. Candidates also are exposed to a wide range of diverse classroom settings through the VFE® in each course.
Placement Levels
Candidates in the elementary education program must complete classroom-based field experiences at two levels: primary (Grades K–2) and intermediate (Grades 3–6). Candidates in some states may be required to complete experiences in three levels – Kindergarten, primary and intermediate. Typically, candidates are placed at the primary level first and progress through the intermediate levels throughout the program.
Host Teacher
Host teachers at placement sites must be licensed/certified in elementary education, have at least two years of teaching experience, and be recommended by the principal or district. Host teachers are required to complete a time sheet verifying the hours each candidate spent in the classroom as well as a brief evaluation based on their experience working with the candidate. Candidates are responsible for submitting the evaluation and time sheet to their ePortfolio.
Placement Process
Placement for field experience refers to the process of locating and securing a site or school, classroom, and host teacher that meet the requirements for classroom-based field experiences. The OFE is responsible for finding and approving all field experience placement sites and host teachers for candidates. To fulfill this responsibility, the OFE collaborates with school districts across the United States.
To be placed in a classroom-based field experience, candidates must complete the Preferred Placement Form and Plan of Study. The Preferred Placement Form and Plan of Study forms are initially due during EDUC 6400 - The Professional Educator, which is the first course in the professional sequence. No changes to a Plan of Study can be made unless (1) the change does not impact when the candidate is scheduled to take a field experience course, or (2) the candidate is required to retake a course. Candidates are responsible for researching and identifying their preferred school districts in their geographical region and listing their preferred school districts.
Note: Failure to complete the Preferred Placement Form and Plan of Study by the deadline will result in a hold on the candidate’s record, preventing them from registering for the subsequent quarter, and will delay the field experience placement. Once the candidate submits the form and a placement is secured, the hold will be removed, and the candidate will be registered for the next quarter of courses.
The OFE will attempt to place candidates in a school district listed on their Preferred Placement Form, provided the school district meets program and field experience requirements. Once candidates are placed, the OFE will email them regarding the placement. All email communication between the OFE and candidates will take place via the Walden email server, per university policy.
Placement notifications from the OFE will include information about any documents the placement site may require, such as a criminal history, sexual offender background checks, proof of immunizations, or TB clearance. Candidates must fulfill these requirements immediately to ensure placement. Failure to fulfill the placement site’s requirements before the experience is scheduled to begin will result in a delayed placement and may require candidates to postpone registration in the accompanying course(s) until the next quarter.
Important notes: Walden University does not guarantee candidates will be placed in a school district or organization they have listed on the Preferred Placement Form. Candidates must accept the placement confirmed by the OFE, or they can choose to defer the field experience courses to a later term. In addition, the OFE reserves the right to change a candidate’s placement site and/or host teacher as needed.
Walden is committed to providing candidates with resources and support in preparation of field experiences. To help ease anxiety in the field experience process, Walden offers a 0-credit Field Experience Preparation course, a structured experience that guides candidates through the application process and currently available readiness resources. The course is designed to complement other pre-requisite courses needed in preparation for field experiences. There may be reasons why a field experience course needs to be postponed, or the readiness course may not be needed if a field experience opportunity has already been secured. In this instance, students may opt-out of the preparation course.
Requesting a Change in Placement
Candidates who wish to update their preferred placement to a different location must contact the OFE to do so at least one term before the field placement is scheduled to begin. If the request is not made by the start of the term preceding the placement start date, the candidate may need to drop the associated field experience course(s) for the upcoming term.
Note: If a candidate relocates to another state, the relocation may impact the candidate’s ability to complete field experiences and/or to obtain professional licensure, certification, or other credential in that state. Candidates are advised to carefully review, evaluate, and understand the requirements of the applicable licensure board in the state in which they intend to relocate.
Placement Expectations
- Candidates are expected to report to their placement site each week.
- Candidates are expected to create a schedule with their host teacher and notify their host teacher if a conflict arises and prevents them from meeting at a scheduled time.
- While conducting field experiences, teacher candidates are considered professional invitees at their approved placement site, and time spent at the site must be focused on completing the field experience and program requirements. Therefore, teacher candidates are not allowed to bring their dependent child (children) or other family members to their placement site during field experiences or DT unless the dependent is an enrolled student at the placement site. If the dependent is an enrolled student at the placement site, the teacher candidate must complete all requirements in a classroom other than the one in which their dependent child is enrolled or in which another family member is present.
- Candidates are required to present themselves in accordance with the Code of Ethics for Minnesota Teachers (Rule 8710.2100) and the Code of Ethics for the state where they complete field experiences during each visit to and in correspondence with a placement site.
- Professional dispositions, or attitudes, are very important elements in determining a person’s fitness to teach. Host teachers will evaluate candidates’ professional dispositions toward children and teaching at the end of each field experience. In addition, anyone who interacts with candidates at any point may file a Professional Disposition Concern Form, should conduct be egregious enough to warrant it. Candidates should review the Professional Dispositions in Part 1. Candidates are assessed on these dispositions. The assessment of professional dispositions is further explained in the Candidate Guidebook, as well as on the Professional Disposition Concern Form.
- If candidates are unable to complete their courses as scheduled and, therefore, are unable to fulfill the field experience hours for the term, they are responsible for notifying their host teacher, the Walden University Student Success Advising Team, and the OFE.