Field-based Experience Guidelines
for Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Certification Program Students
(Mandatory for students admitted after January 1, 2009)
The State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC), the Texas Education Agency (TEA), and the Texas State Board of Education recently revised the Texas Administrative Code that governs teacher certification programs (December 14, 2008). One section provides regulations for field-based experience (TITLE 19;PART 7; CHAPTER 228; RULE §228.35).
TLU implements these provisions as follows:
- TLU provides evidence of on-going and relevant field-based experiences throughout the post-baccalaureate teacher certification program.
- Students complete field-based experiences in a variety of educational settings with diverse student populations in districts with TEA accreditation..
- Field-based experiences include observation, modeling, and demonstration of effective practices to improve student learning.
- Students complete a minimum of 30 clock-hours of field-based experience.
- Students complete a minimum of 30 clock-hours of field-based experience prior to assignment in an internship.
- Students complete the required field-based experiences in a school representing their initial area of certification (i.e., EC-4, EC-6, 4-8, 8-12, or all-level).
- Students have opportunity for self-reflection and discussion about field-based experiences to allow them to maximize this learning opportunity by sharing each others’ experiences with guidance from a TLU facilitator.
- Students complete written reflections to help them internalize their field experiences.
- Students meet the requirement for field-based experiences through such activities as
o observation of specific teacher skills and student behaviors (questioning techniques, classroom management, offering praise, etc)
o development or assembly of materials for a lesson
o selection of library books to be used in the classroom for a particular unit of study
o individual or small-group tutoring
o reading to elementary students
o a wide variety of other activities as coordinated between the TLU student and the district, school, and/or teacher
- Substitute teaching may be used for a maximum of 20 of the required hours with the other 10 hours to be completed with other field experiences with one or more certified teachers.
- Teacher aides/paraprofessionals may count a maximum of 20 of the required hours with the other 10 hours to be completed with other field experiences with one or more certified teachers.
- Students who have completed any of the above before entering the TLU Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Certification Program may petition the program director to have some or all of their past experiences considered in lieu of up to 20 of the required hours.
Procedures
1. Complete the TLU Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Certification Program Field-based Experience Request Form and submit it to the program director. Do not contact a school or district directly.
2. The program director will contact the district or school where you wish to complete your field-based experience to obtain approval and coordinate with whom you will work.
3. The program director will provide you with your field experience information.
4. Complete the field-based experience as planned.
a. Observe the teacher and his/her students in the classroom setting. Focus on interaction from teacher-to-student, student-to-teacher, and student-to-student.
b. Participate in additional activities to aid and assist your assigned teacher(s) at their discretion.
5. Demonstrate professional appearance and behavior.
a. Dress professionally.
b. Schedule each visit and arrive promptly.
c. Observe parking and entering policies.
d. Sign-in and out on the school sign-in form in the office on each visit.
e. If required, wear a visitor’s badge.
f. Maintain confidentiality.
g. Adhere to all rules and regulations of the school and district.
6. Document the date, hours, location, activity, and the signature of the campus administrator or teacher on the TLU Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Certification Program Field-based Experience Log.
7. Follow up on your field experience activities by writing a narrative report. Your report will vary depending on the field-based activity.
a. Classroom observations
i. How did the teacher do each of the following? Was it effective? Why or why not?
- Gain the students’ attention
- inform the students of the objectives
- Stimulate recall of prior learning
- Present the content
- Use a variety of instructional strategies
- Use resources, references, manipulatives, etc.
- Provide "learning guidance"
- Elicit performance (practice)
- Provide feedback
- Assess learning
- Enhance retention and transfer
- Manage the classroom
- Handle discipline problems
ii. What you have learned to assist you with your own instruction
iii. What you have learned to assist with your own classroom management
b. Activities in which you worked directly with the students
i. Describe the activity: .e.g., presentation of lesson, classroom management, tutoring, etc.
ii. Include any items that you produced as part of the activity.
iii. Reflect on the activity in terms of its effectiveness and how you would change it the next time.
8. Meet with other students to discuss your field-based experiences as scheduled each term with the program director.
9. Send a thank you note to the teachers who allowed you to use their classrooms to complete your field-based experiences.
