PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION FIELD EXPERIENCES

Campbell University has a proud and historical tradition of training excellent educators who create exciting classrooms across North Carolina and beyond. What you do during your field experiences begins this development and training to prepare you to continue this tradition. We welcome you to the family of outstanding educators!

PLEASE NOTE:  For fall practicum/student teaching placement, the completed application is due by April 1; for spring practicum/student teaching placement, the completed application is due by November 1.

TYPES OF FIELD EXPERIENCES
Early in your program of study, you will enroll in courses which require a “short” field experience and eventually progress to the practicum and student teaching field experience at the end of your program, typically the senior year. These field experiences are intended to provide you with the “real” view of teaching in a public school setting. These field experiences are briefly explained here and further detailed in the corresponding sub-tabs under this section (The Short Field Experience; The Practicum Field Experience; and The Student Teaching Field Experience).
NOTE:      Prior to beginning any field experience, background checks and proof of liability insurance are required. For student teaching placements in several districts, students will be required to have health exams/Tuberculin (TB) tests in addition to background checks and  liability insurance.  Students should submit the original  copies of the NC  Health Form,  background  checks  and proof of liability insurance to the Tk20 Unit Administrator. Students should  maintain  their  own personal copies of these documents.
All applications for Field Experiences must be submitted through Tk20.  If you need an account, please contact Ms. Kelly Ashworth, Tk20 Administrator, at ashworthk@campbell.edu.  
(Tk20 Online  Application Required plus enrollment in either EDUC 221 Introduction to Education or SPED 331/ 350 Adolescents with Exceptionalities)

These short field experiences allow students the opportunity to observe and assist the veteran teacher and in some small way, teach, in a public classroom setting early in your program of study. The activities completed  within a  short  field  experiences  will occur at various grade levels allowing you to observe characteristics of school age children and participate in the day to day operations of a typical school setting across the K-12 spectrum. Requests for short field placements are completed through the Tk20 System.   
(Tk20 Online  Application Required plus enrollment in the appropriate practicum seminar course:  EDUC 456: Elementary; EDUC 432, Secondary, K-12; EDUC 456, Elementary, Middle; BKED 456, Birth- Kindergarten and EDUC 693.)

The practicum is a pre-student teaching experience.  It is of shorter duration and the level of competence expected is less than for student teaching; however, it is a critical developmental experience for the prospective teacher.  Generally students participate  in one of three types of experiences:  observing,  assisting,  or teaching.
 (Tk20 Online Application Required plus enrollment in the appropriate student teaching seminar course:  EDUC 457, Elementary; EDUC 458, Secondary, K-12; EDUC 460, Middle; EDUC 557/558,)

The Student Teaching experiences for Teacher Education students are designed to allow prospective teachers opportunities to translate  the  theoretical concepts  learned  in their  on-campus  classes  into real life experiences in actual public school classrooms. Traditionally the student teaching  field experience  occurs during your final semester at Campbell University.
  
NOTE:  There is a fee for student teaching which  covers  stipends  for  both  Cooperating  Teacher  and  adjunct  University Supervisor and travel expenses for university supervisors as they  visit  and observe  you throughout  the field experience.
There are additional opportunities for candidates to pursue field experiences on their own.  Area school districts have implemented AVID in which many structured tutoring opportunities exist for the college student.  Advancement via Individual Determination (AVID) is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to closing the achievement gap by preparing all students for college and other postsecondary opportunities. Established more than 35 years ago with one teacher in one classroom, AVID today impacts more than 1.2 million students in 44 states and 16 other countries/territories.  If you are interested in this opportunity, please complete the AVID tutor application and return to the Director of Teacher Education or to the designated AVID Coordinator in each school district.  

Important Documents for the Field Experience Placement
Candidates should closely read the documents below.  The Field Experience Contract will be signed prior to beginning the field experience.
code_of_ethics_for_field_experience_candidates.pdf
File Size: 153 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
field_experience_contract.pdf
File Size: 86 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
supervising_team_field_experiences.pdf
File Size: 151 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
guidelines_for_field_experience_candidates_4-27-16.pdf
File Size: 170 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
guiding_questions_for_field_placement_candidates.pdf
File Size: 165 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
pre-service-teacher-rubric.pdf
File Size: 141 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
NOTE:  Keep in mind that 124 semester hours are needed for graduation. Using Web Access, you should check your progress toward graduation often during your senior year.

*REQUIRED  FIELD  PLACEMENT  LIABILITY INSURANCE

The School of Education requires all candidates to secure professional liability insurance  in order to complete any field experiences  (Short Field Placements,  Practicum, or Student Teaching).  Typically these policies are available  through membership  in professional organizations,  such as those in specific subject areas like the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS), the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Language  (ACTFL), or those that cover all subject areas, for example, the National Education Association (NEA), the North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE), or the Professional Educators of North Carolina (PENC). 

Liability insurance  can also be obtained through private insurance  companies.  Information on other professional organizations which may provide liability insurance can be found on their individual websites or by calling the organization. The School of Education does NOT endorse or 
require membership  in any one particular organization. The choice of membership  is determined  by the student.  The only requirement is that liability insurance is secured for any field  placement.  Candidates will need to verify their membership  and provide a copy of the insurance  coverage when they complete their application for short field  experiences, practicum and student teaching placements.

No student will be allowed to participate  in any field experiences without  meeting this requirement.  A “Certificate of Insurance” must be provided to the Office of Field Experiences.  If you joined a professional organization which included  your liability insurance, the welcome letter or proof of membership covering the time period of the field placement, will serve as your “Certificate of Insurance.”  If you joined a professional organization which offers a reduced student liability insurance plan, you must provide a copy of the “Certificate of Insurance” which you will be able to print when you purchase the insurance.  The website, www.ftjcom,  is an excellent website to visit to determine your professional organizations liability insurance options.