Participant Observers

The Participant-Observer Fieldwork Experience

All students enrolled in School of Education, Health and Human Services programs that lead to New York State teaching certification are required to complete a minimum of 100 hours of fieldwork prior to the student teaching experience.  Fieldwork provides an opportunity to put theory into practice.  Students are placed in a variety of classroom settings across the full range of grades and ability levels covered by the student's area of certification.  This initial fieldwork is designed to allow the student to examine the learning process within the context of a dynamic learning environment.  The participant-observer experience allows pre-service candidates to design lessons and assess student learning as the participant-observer assists, co-teaches, works with individual students or with small groups Many courses have their own specific requirements for this experience, which will be explained in the course syllabus.

Fieldwork is completed at sites arranged by the Office of Field Placement. Students are not free to secure their own field placements or call sites to arrange their own placements; formal arrangements must be made for a student's presence in a school. Immediately call your field placement upon receiving contact information.  Failure to do so will result in the loss of the placement and will impede your ability to fulfill field placement requirements in a timely manner. 

Students who work in a school setting may fulfill observation requirements in that setting one time only under certain circumstances.  Please contact the Office of Field Placement for information on the requirements. 

PROFESSIONALISM:

Schools require professional conduct and professional dress; generally jeans, shorts and sneakers are unacceptable.  Punctuality and attendance are of critical importance.  Be sure to set a visitation schedule and adhere to it.  Cooperating teachers should be contacted if it is necessary to make a change in the schedule.

FOR YOUR COOPERATING TEACHER ON YOUR FIRST DAY:

1. A COVER LETTER from the course professor providing background information on the course and the required fieldwork.
2. *TIME SHEET for each course, documenting your hours in the field, to be signed weekly by the cooperating teacher.  Retain a copy for your records.
3. *EVALUATION FORM for each course, completed and signed by the cooperating teacher. 
4. *RETURN ENVELOPE for the time sheet and evaluation form for each course.  (Be sure to complete information on the top of the form and note professor's name on each return envelope.)  Documents must be submitted by your cooperating teacher in a sealed envelope, with his/her signature across the seal.  This envelope can be mailed or given to you for delivery to each course professor.
5. For SECONDARY EDUCATION STUDENTS:
   *A BLUE BOOKLET: "Guidelines for Secondary Education Pre-Student Teaching Field Experiences."

*Students can pick up these materials on the table inside 179 Hagedorn Hall.
Hours and signatures are subject to verification by your course professor and the Office of Field Placement.