Student Teaching: Elementary, Secondary, and All-Grade

Program Description
Application Process
Placement
Eligibility Requirements
Appeals Process
Sexual Harrassment Policy

Student Teaching/Practicum Options: Special Cultural Learning Opportunities

Practicum Options

Program Description

A full semester of student teaching is recommended by the faculty for the student’s professional development and particularly in instances where teaching experience in both a major and minor area, in different grade levels, or in different types of school settings is sought. At IUPUI, a full semester (16 weeks) is required for students seeking elementary or senior high/junior high/middle school certification.

In addition to student teaching, a practicum of six weeks often is required for those students who wish to add an endorsement or minor to the basic license being sought.

Both student teaching and practicums are full-day, full-time, off-campus, school-based experiences that are completed in the number of consecutive weeks associated with the type of experience. The extent of actual student teacher or practicum student involvement and the assumption of full class responsibilities rests upon the mutual agreement of the student, the cooperating teacher, and the university supervisor. Augmentation of the program is achieved through participation in the total education activities of the school, and such participation is regarded as an integral part of the experience, not optional or supplemental.

The student teaching experience has been carefully designed to be as realistic and as intensive as actual teaching. This includes placing student teachers in schools with carefully selected and qualified supervising teachers. Supervision from the university is provided by specialists who have been successful classroom teachers.

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Application Process

Participation in the program begins with the filing of an Application for Student Teaching or Practicum before the end of the fall semester of the academic year that precedes the year in which the student teaching or practicum is to be done. In Bloomington, students are required to attend one of the application meetings held during September and October to review the application and the accompanying documents and procedures. The application will be due within two weeks of the meeting date. The application must be submitted to the campus through which the experience is intended. Student teaching or practicums will be completed through the campus where the methods course(s) are taken unless an exception is granted by the appropriate authority. At IUPUI, participation in the program begins by attending a Student Teaching Information Session and filing an Application for Student Teaching before the end of the fall semester of the academic year that precedes the year in which the student teaching or practicum is to be done. (Example: Apply fall 2000 for student teaching in fall 2001 or spring 2002). The application must be submitted to the campus through which the student will receive his or her certification or degree. Student teaching or practicums will be completed through the campus where the methods courses are taken unless an exception is granted by the appropriate authority.

Attention:
You may be required to provide a criminal history check to school districts before participating in field placements and student teaching. School districts may deny a field placement or student teaching assignment based on a misdemeanor or felony conviction. The application process for a teaching license in Indiana requires a current criminal history check. Convicted felons may not hold a teaching license in Indiana.

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Placement

Decisions relative to the specific teaching assignment, type of school desired, geographic location, and possible supervisor arrangements will be discussed at the time the application is submitted. In Bloomington, this information will be included on the accompanying application documents. Placement recommendations from the student’s major department or school are also solicited and made a part of the placement process.

Arrangements for placement and supervision are provided by the Office of Student Teaching, Bloomington or IUPUI. Students are given the opportunity to express a preference for the type and location of school to which they will be assigned. Most placements are made in the public schools—elementary, middle, junior high, and senior high, statewide for students on the Bloomington campus, and within Marion or one of the adjacent counties for students at IUPUI. Placements in other areas of the state will be considered, depending upon supervisory arrangements.

Students also have the option of applying for student teaching and/or practicums in special areas, such as those provided by schools for American Indian and overseas children. Such assignments must be preceded, however, by specialized study. See the section of this bulletin entitled ‘‘Student Teaching/Practicum Options.’’

All requests for elaboration or clarification relative to student teaching or practicums should be directed to the Office of Student Teaching, Bloomington or IUPUI.

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Eligibility Requirements for Student Teaching and Practicums

To be eligible for student teaching or practicums a student must:

1. have been admitted to the Teacher Education Program.
   
2. have submitted an Application for Student Teaching or Practicum before the end of the fall semester of the academic year preceding the year of the desired experience to the Office of Student Teaching, Bloomington or IUPUI. In Bloomington, students must attend one of the application meetings in September or October and submit the application within two weeks of that meeting date. At IUPUI, students must attend a Student Teaching Information Session and submit an Application for Student Teaching before the end of the fall semester of the academic year preceding the year of the desired experience.
   
3. have completed all required education courses with a grade of C or higher.
   
4. have senior or graduate standing in the university or be within two semesters and one summer session of graduation. (In no case should a student have completed fewer than 84 credit hours prior to the semester in which the student teaching and/or practicum is to be done.)
   
5. have completed all of the professional education courses in the license program that have been designated as prerequisites to student teaching.
   
6. have completed at least three-fourths of the number of credit hours required for licensing in the major and the minor or endorsement area if student teaching or a practicum is required.
   
7. have successfully completed the required laboratory/field experience courses: M101, M201, M301, and M401 if elementary; M201, M303, and M403 if secondary; M201, M301, and M401 if all-grade; or K495 A, B, and C if special education.
   
8. have earned a minimum overall GPA of 2.5 at Indiana University.
   
9. have completed all professional education courses and have attained a minimum GPA of 2.5 in all professional education courses. A minimum grade of C must be attained in each professional education course. At IUPUI, professional education and technology courses must be no more than ten years old the semester student teaching begins.
   
10. if an elementary, early childhood, or special education major, (or Dual-Certification Elementary/Special Education at IUPUI) have maintained a minimum GPA of 2.0 in subject matter courses within each of the following areas: mathematics, science, social studies, language arts, and fine arts.
    
11. if in the secondary or all-grade program, have maintained a minimum GPA of 2.5 in each certification area.
    
12. show proficiency in the area(s) in which the student teaching or practicum is to be done. This requires a school, department, project, or program recommendation; and may also include passing a required qualifying examination or meeting other requirements established by the respective school, department, project, or program that has been approved.
    
13. if graduated from an institution outside the state, have had that transcript evaluated for deficiencies by the certification advisor for the campus, Bloomington or IUPUI, from which the student teaching will be done. This evaluation must be done before the application for student teaching can be accepted. State requirements must be met, as well as those of Indiana University that may be in addition to the state requirements. Students are seldom permitted to enroll in student teaching until they have completed some course work at Indiana University. Graduates of nonaccredited colleges or universities are not accepted for upper-level work.
    
14. if graduated from an in-state institution, have written release and clearance from that institution, present evidence of being enrolled in a degree or certification program at that institution, or present a transient student request.
    
15. if a transfer student, be enrolled at least one semester or summer in education courses on an Indiana University campus before student teaching.

Students found ineligible for student teaching or practicums may appeal this decision through the Appeals Committee on the campus where the application was submitted. At IUPUI this appeal should be directed to the assistant dean of student services for faculty committee review. At Bloomington, students should follow the appeals processes described below.

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Appeals Regarding Criteria for Admission, Retention, and Program Requirements at Bloomington

Students who wish to appeal decisions concerning admission to teacher education or retention in teacher education, or who seek a waiver for a requirement in a specific program, must follow this appeals process:

1. Submit all appeals to the Professional Standards Committee.
   Should that appeal be denied:
   
2. Submit an appeal to the Associate Dean for Teacher Education.
   Should that appeal be denied:
   
3. Submit an appeal to the University Dean of Education.

All appeals must be made in this order.

Appeals Regarding Teaching Activities at Bloomington

If a student has concerns about the quality of teaching in a course in which he or she is enrolled, the student should follow this process:

1. Discuss those concerns with the instructor.
   If that discussion does not resolve the student’s concerns, the student should:
   
2. Schedule a meeting with the appropriate coordinator of that course.
   If that discussion does not resolve the student’s concerns, the student should:
   
3. Schedule a meeting with the chair of the department through which the course is offered.
   If that meeting does not resolve the student’s concerns, the student should:
   
4. Schedule a meeting with the Associate Dean for Teacher Education.

All appeals must be made in this order.

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Sexual Harassment Policy

Harassment on the basis of sex is a violation of Title VII. Indiana University does not tolerate sexual harassment of students and responds to every complaint. Individuals who believe that they have been sexually harassed should notify their supervisor and/or the director of the student teaching program.

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Practicum Options:

Special Cultural Immersion Student Teaching Projects
Special projects in which student teaching experience may be gained are described below. Each project is open to students at Bloomington and IUPUI as well as to students from other institutions. The employment success of these projects has been very high year after year.

Note:
Noneducation majors (College of Arts and Sciences, etc.) may also participate in these cultural immersion projects. They will be placed in social service agencies of their choice, and they will earn cultural course credit at the 500 level.

The American Indian Reservation Student Teaching Project
This project features student teaching for students seeking elementary, secondary (almost every subject area), all-grade, and special education teaching certificates on reservations in Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah.

Placements will be made both semesters and will involve 17 weeks of student teaching and community involvement on the Navajo Indian Reservations. Student teachers will be placed in Bureau of Indian Affairs boarding schools, in tribal-controlled schools, or in public schools serving American Indian youth.

Each participant registers for 10-16 credit hours of student teaching and cultural practicum and at least one 3 credit hour course focusing on American Indian education, culture, and historical and contemporary issues and conditions. Three to 9 graduate credit hours are earned.

Student teachers are available to American Indian children not only for classroom instruction, but also for counseling, athletics, and cross-cultural interaction. All student teachers participate in a culturally oriented workshop held on campus in April to prepare them for the reservation setting. On-site seminars, readings, films, presentations by American Indian consultants, and site reports extend the workshop experience. Community involvement with American Indian adults and youth is also required. Living costs on the reservation are quite modest.

Overseas Student Teaching Project
This project offers elementary, secondary (almost every major), all-grade, and special education preservice teachers the opportunity to teach in England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Australia, New Zealand, India, and Taiwan. Kenya is a new placement option. Participants must complete a 10-16 week student teaching assignment in Indiana before reporting to the overseas site for eight additional weeks. Each participant registers for 10-16 credit hours of student teaching and cultural practicum and for 3 credit hours of T550. Participants earn 3-9 hours of graduate credit. The project is designed for preservice teachers interested in comparing and contrasting educational systems, learning through travel, and learning more about current international issues. Preparatory instruction and practical advice are provided before participants go abroad. On-site assignments and community involvement complement the school experience.

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