FAQ

How do I register for a field experiences term?

Registration in the IPT or APT terms is a two-part process:

1. Students register via BearTracks in the IPT or APT courses as indicated in the U of A calendar and the Education program sheet. Students complete all of the IPT or APT classes in the same term. Courses have limited space so you must register as early as possible.
2. After registering on-line in field experiences courses, students are to provide placement information through the Education Field Experience (EDFX) Web Interface, which can be found through Registration Information.

Do I have to take all of the IPT/APT classes in the same term?

Undergraduate Student Services discourages students from splitting Professional Terms, as it is not advantageous for the student to take these courses separately. However, depending upon extenuating circumstances you may be able to split the term. This should be discussed with a student advisor.

When does the IPT/APT start and end?

Check Field Experience at a Glance 2011-2012.

What if I cannot get registered into my IPT/APT classes?

Contact Undergraduate Student Services for help from a student adviser. Please bring your updated Program Sheet and your Unofficial Transcripts from BearTracks.

When can I start, and what are the deadlines, to complete the Student Teacher Online Registration?

The Online Registration is available in mid-April for the following fall and winter terms. Students must complete the Online Registration for the fall term and winter term at the same time. The deadline to complete this information is usually the first week of September for fall placements and the third week of November for winter term.

Is there an advantage to completing the Student Teacher Online Registration earlier (do you arrange placements by the date order the Online Registration is done)?

No, there is no advantage. However, students are encouraged to sign up as soon as possible. Changes can be made up until the deadline. We encourage all student teachers to register as early as possible so we can make the best possible placement.

When and where will I find out where my field placement is?

Fall term placements are posted by the end of September and winter term placements are posted by the end of January.

When placements are released, they will be available on EDFX Web Interface, which again can be found through Registration Information. You can look up your placement information by your UofA ID number.

What if I have a concern about where I am placed?

If you have a concern, please come to the Undergraduate Student Services Inquirey Days as soon as possible.

Who should I contact if I encounter serious problems during the Field Experience?

1. If a Student Teacher encounters a serious problem in their student teaching, they should discuss the problem with their Mentor Teacher immediately, as well as their University Facilitator. If the problem is still not satisfactorily resolved, the Student Teacher should also contact their Field Experience Associate.
2. If the Student Teacher's concern is of a personal nature and they would prefer not to share with those directly related to the Field Experience, they should contact the Director of Student Support in Undergraduate Student Services 1-107 Education Center North at 492-2638.

Who should I contact if I decide to withdraw from Field Experience?

If problems arise prior to or during the Field Experience that necessitate withdrawal from student teaching, please advise the Field Experiences Associate immediately (at 1-107 Education Center North, 492-3659) as well as the Mentor Teacher and University Facilitator. Students will be referred to the Director of Student Support upon completion of paper work.

How do you place students (what is the criteria)?

Program match is of most importance when placing secondary students: both IPT and APT students are placed according to their major. For elementary students, we match students to schools. Schools will in turn match students with teachers depending on classroom needs. When those priorities are met, the placement coordinators will then consider student preferences and the area in which they live (based on postal code). Every effort is made to place student teachers in cohorts of at least 2.

My placement is located on the other side of the city. Why couldn't I be placed closer to where I live?

Program match is the primary criterion for student teacher placement. Every effort is made to place Student Teachers within a reasonable traveling distance from their place of residence, however, based on available school sites this cannot be guaranteed. Paragraph (11) of 73.2.3 University Calendar: "Access to transportation is not considered in making placements in the Edmonton area. Placements can be made anywhere in the Greater Edmonton area including Devon, Fort Saskatchewan, Leduc, Morinville, St Albert, Sherwood Park, Spruce Grove, and Stony Plain.

What if I have volunteered or worked in a school?

Field Experiences can use a school for which you have volunteered but cannot use a school in which you have been employed. If you have volunteered in a school, please indicate this information by emailing a placement coordinator.

Can I do my student teaching in the high school that I attended?

It is possible for a student teacher to be placed in their high school if five years have passed since they have graduated.

What if I have relatives in a school?

Field Experiences will not be able to place a student in a school in which the student has immediate family members employed or enrolled (Immediate family means: spouse, parent, children, and siblings).

Can I request a Jewish or a non-Catholic Christian placement?

You cannot indicate any preferences for types of schools on the Online Registration, other than Public, Catholic, or No Preference. When schools are recruited to accept student teachers, they cannot be categorized further. You could send an email to the Field Experience Coordinators, letting them know your situation and preference.

Can a principal, teacher, or coach request me to be placed in their school?

The Field Experience Coordinators will consider a request for a specific student teacher if they receive an email from the school coordinator. The student teacher should also send an email to the Field Experiences Coordinators indicating that they are willing to be placed at that school. This request will not guarantee the student teacher can be placed at that school. Many factors are involved in arranging an appropriate placement.

Can I request a specific school or teacher for my Field Experience?

Due to the large volume of placements made each term, specific school or teacher requests cannot be honoured. Student Teachers must not arrange their own Field Experience placement. The Undergraduate Student Services office, via the Field Experiences unit, has the authority and responsibility for arranging all Student Teaching placements.

What if I miss the deadline to complete the Online Registration?

As long as you are registered in an EDFX course, the Field Experience Coordinators will be able to arrange a placement for you. If you do not complete the Online Registration by the deadline, you will simply not be able to indicate any preferences.

Email a placement coordinator for further information.

Can I trade placements with another student?

Student teachers are placed according to a rationale, and with a great deal of care and effort. If you have a concern about where you have been placed, please come to Undergraduate Student Services during the scheduled Inquiry Days to fill out a Placement Inquiry Form and speak to a Field Experience Associate.

What if I am placed in a Catholic school and I am not Catholic?

Student teachers are requested to indicate a preference of Catholic or public school on the registration page. Based on this information, the best possible match is made. Once the placement process has been completed, if a student has questions or concerns, please complete a Placement Inquiry Form.

What if I want a Catholic placement and I do not get one?

Placements are arranged according to the availability of schools. Every effort is made to accommodate student preferences but the final placement depends upon many factors.

What is a University Facilitator (UF)?

University Facilitators are experienced teachers who visit the school to provide support to the Student Teachers, Mentor Teachers, and School Coordinator.

How do I contact my University Facilitator (UF)?

Your UF's name and phone number are posted in your placement information on the Field Experience website.

What is a Field Experiences Associate (FEA)?

Field Experiences Associates are University personnel (seconded teachers) who provide leadership to a group of University Facilitators and assist with coordinating Field Experiences.

What if I have a problem with my Mentor Teacher or School?

We strongly encourage students to try to discuss the issue first with their Mentor Teacher and University Facilitator, if possible.  If the situation remains unresolved, students can then contact their Field Experiences Associate (FEA) if necessary.

Do I have to do anything after my Field Experience ends?

As noted on the Field Experience website:

We encourage Student Teachers to write a Letter of Thanks to their Mentor Teacher. Effective Mentor Teachers value the role of Mentoring and help Student Teachers navigate through the tremendous challenges of student teaching. They give up personal time and allow disruptions to their classes, schedules, and normal working hours in order to provide support to Student Teachers. A letter acknowledging the Mentor Teacher's efforts would be much appreciated and would make it more likely he/she will provide their services to future Student Teachers. This letter may be presented on the last day of the Field Experience or mailed to the Mentor Teacher after the student teaching round is concluded.

More information on the Letter of Thanks.

How do I write a Letter of Introduction?

School Coordinators often use Letters of Introduction to assist in matching Student Teachers to Mentor Teachers. Instructions for writing a Letter of Introduction.

Check with USS for upcoming workshops.

What if I do not pass my IPT/APT classes?

IPT/APT courses are a prerequisite for Field Experiences. If a student is unsuccessful in an IPT/APT course, it will be followed up with the student on an individual basis. In a subsequent term, you will complete only the IPT/APT class or classes that you did not successfully complete, and then you may continue on to do your EDFX field experience.

How is the Field Experience course graded?

EDFX courses are credit/non-credit. This means you will receive credit (a CR notation) or will not receive credit (NC) on your transcript. There is no number or letter grade. The Student Teacher Evaluation that is reviewed with you, and then submitted by your Mentor Teacher, will contain a description and evaluation of your student teaching experience.

If I do my IPT/APT in the winter, will I get the UofA Reading Week?

Please check the dates provided at USS or on the field experiences website. During your practicum, you will be off only on holidays when the assigned school is not in attendance. When you are attending classes on campus you will be off on the U of A holidays.

What are Professional Written Reflections? Do I have to keep them?

Professional Written Reflections are used to develop a formalized process of quality reflection of the teaching process. The written reflections are to be reviewed by your Mentor Teacher and University Facilitator to provide feedback. The written reflections are also a useful tool for mid-point and final evaluations, providing a dynamic document that demonstrates growth and learning.

How much student teaching am I expected to do during the APT Field Experience?

Student Teachers should be prepared to gradually increase classroom responsibilities until Week 8 when Student Teachers are teaching 80%. During Week 9, the teaching responsibilities will be reduced to allow for marking and observation. Exact timing will be determined by the Mentor Teacher and University Facilitator based on their progress and development.

What happens when a substitute teacher replaces my Mentor Teacher?

Where the absence of the Mentor Teacher is likely to be of short duration, a substitute may serve as Mentor Teacher. If it is not anticipated that the absence will exceed five school days, however, it is advisable that the Student Teacher be assigned to another suitable Mentor Teacher, unless it is felt to be in the best interest of the Student Teacher to remain in the assigned teaching situation. The Substitute Teacher is expected to remain in the room with the Student Teacher and help if needed.

Local Edmonton Placements

What is considered Local Edmonton Area?

40 kilometers from Edmonton city centre is considered a Local Edmonton Area placement. This includes Ardrossan, Beaumont, Devon, Fort Saskatchewan, Leduc, Morinville, St. Albert, Sherwood Park, Spruce Grove, and Stony Plain.

Will you place me close to where I live?

The first priority in making placements is program match. Field Experiences cannot promise to place students in a particular area. We do not know ahead of time which schools will volunteer to mentor in any particular term. Ensure that your information, especially your postal code, is up to date on the Field Experiences website registration area.

What zone is my school in?

Schools are organized into zones.  The IPT Orientation is organized according to these zones.

Regional Placements

Where can I do a Regional Placement?

Students are encouraged to apply for a Regional Placement.  Generally, USS can place students from Red Deer and north, provided the school teaches Alberta curriculum. Individual considerations for placements outside of this area, including Calgary, are handled by the Assistant Dean of Field Experiences.

What if you cannot place me in the Regional areas that I requested (will they place me anywhere)?

If it is not possible to place you in the Regional town or city that you requested, the Regional Placement Coordinator will contact you to discuss further options. You will not simply be placed anywhere available in the region. If a suitable Regional placement is not possible, you will most likely be placed in the Local Edmonton Area.

Where can I do a Regional Placement?

You can be placed in an Alberta school in Red Deer and north of Red Deer, excluding Lloydminster.  You can also be placed in the Northwest Territories in schools that follow Alberta Curriculum.

Is there any support or incentive for being placed Regionally?

Support and incentives for Regional placements are available from some school districts. The Field Experience website outlines the opportunities available.

Does the address I list online affect my request for a regional placement?

For Regional placements, your address is not pertinent for arranging a placement. Students should always make sure contact information is up to date on the Field Experiences website and in the Personal Information tab in your BearTracks account so that the Field Placement Coordinators can contact you.