Clinical field experiences are cooperative ventures between the University and the public schools. They are culminating activities of the teacher education program and follow the guidelines of the North Carolina State Board of Education for Approved Educator Preparation Programs. In addition, field experiences are designed to respond to standards and aspects of quality teacher education programs.
All clinical field experiences are governed by a Memorandum of Agreement/Understanding (MOA or MOU) between Campbell University and the Local Education Agency (LEA). No deviation can occur which is not stated explicitly within this MOA. All placements are negotiated between the Director of Teacher Education and the LEA representative.
Background Checks
ALL candidates applying for any field experience MUST complete a criminal background check. Candidates should be aware that public schools will not allow placements for field experiences or internships for candidates with multiple and/or serious criminal background issues. Failure to be accepted for field experiences or internship will preclude the candidate from completing the degree and a change of major must be completed.
Liability Insurance
The Professional Education Program requires all candidates to secure professional liability insurance in order to complete any clinical field experiences including Short Field Placements, Practicum, or Student Teaching.
Types of Clinical Field Experiences within the Professional Education Program
The Short Clinical Field Experience
Early in your program of study, candidates enroll in courses which require a “short” clinical field experience. These field experiences are intended to provide candidates with the “real” view of teaching in a public school setting and prepare the candidate for longer clinical field experiences occurring at the end of the program. 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 their program of study. The activities completed within a short field experiences will occur at various grade levels allowing observations of the characteristics of school age children.
The Practicum Clinical Field Experience
Under the direction of a university supervisor and a clinical teacher in the school, the practicum candidate is provided opportunities to develop, demonstrate, and evaluate professional knowledge and skills in the major areas of teacher responsibility within the school. The practicum, which is carefully coordinated with the final student teaching experience, precedes student teaching and is supervised in the same manner with regular visits from the college supervisor and careful monitoring by the clinical teacher. It is of shorter duration than the student teaching clinical field experience and the level of competence expected is less than for student teaching; however, it is a critical developmental experience for the prospective teacher.
The Student Teaching Clinical Field Experience
The Student Teaching clinical field experience for Teacher Education students is 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 the final semester at Campbell University. In order to receive a student teaching placement candidates must be accepted into the Teacher Education program one full semester prior to student teaching, meaning all requirements for admission are met. In addition to these requirements, approval must be received from the major department and the Professional Education department; no academic, disciplinary, or social probation must have occurred; and liability insurance has been obtained and verified.
For more information on Teacher Education Clinical Field Experiences contact:
Dr. Chris Godwin Director of Teacher Education 910-814-4331 godwinc@campbell.edu |
Mrs. Sharon Gainey Field Placement Coordinator 910-893-1898 sgainey@campbell.edu |