Field Experiences
The purpose of the
required fieldwork component within each course is to provide candidates with
specific experiences that contribute to diverse learning experiences throughout
a candidate’s coursework. The Mercy
University School of Education (SoE) takes a collaborative approach and offers
candidates opportunities to contribute to the selection of their fieldwork
sites. Thus, it is expected that
candidates will purposefully seek to conduct fieldwork in a variety of locations
(i.e. urban/suburban, public/private/charter), settings, and teaching
experiences (i.e. tutoring, small group instruction, co-teaching). The fieldwork component is also structured to
ensure that candidates have opportunities to work with a diverse group of
students, including children from a variety of ethnic, racial, linguistic, and
economic backgrounds, as well as those who have special needs and those who are
English-language learners. The faculty
of the SoE believes that the diversity and quality of a candidate’s fieldwork
experiences directly contribute to the candidate’s development as an educator
and preparation for a career in education.
Thus, it is expected that candidates will actively seek to complete
their fieldwork hours in different settings each semester to fulfill the
fieldwork requirement within the School of Education. In addition to completing
the fieldwork record forms, which can be found in the
School of Education’s electronic assessment portfolio system, candidates are responsible for maintaining a
record of each of their fieldwork experiences and reviewing this record each
semester, to ensure that they have visited a variety of schools in a variety of
neighborhoods and that they have worked with diverse student populations. Through this collaborative approach to
fieldwork, the SoE hopes to make the fieldwork experience as meaningful,
productive, and responsive to the specific needs and interests of each
candidate as is possible.
Fieldwork assignment for
EDUC 553
The requirement for the
fieldwork assignment is to observe two in-person classrooms as follows:
First classroom: From
pre-K to grade 2
Second classroom: From
grade 3 to grade 5. This way each candidate will obtain a well-rounded, diverse learning experience. Moreover, each
candidate can compare two classrooms, which can be very interesting.
The
fieldwork report should include the following aspects:
a. At least two detailed examples of math
content, as related to standards.
b. At least two detailed examples of constructivist
and problem-solving methods used in the classroom. Please apply what we have
discussed in this course by including references from the readings.
c. Compare the two observations. Can you see
similarities and differences?
d. Personal reflection about what was learned
through the field experience
The
field experience should be typed, 2 pages, 1.5 line-spacing.
