Field experience is an integral part of the teacher preparation program. Field experience is designed to provide teacher candidates with an opportunity to view the entire scope of teaching in a classroom setting, and to develop the necessary skills to become effective teachers.

Education field experience requires education students to make connections between what is learned in a college class and how that knowledge is applied in practice. Education students will learn what becoming a teacher requires and will be introduced to the profession of teaching. This early stage will involve visits to schools and classrooms to observe the climate of school and the process of teaching to gain a general knowledge of the role of the schools, classrooms and teachers.

The field experience placement varies according to which class is being taken in the program. The placement may be in a public or private school. In some cases, the placement setting may be a community or social agency. For example, students in EDG 2085 (formerly EDG 2701) may complete volunteer work in an agency that works with people of a variety of ages. For placement in a public school, Florida statue Section 1012.465 (the Jessica Lunsford Act) requires students to undergo a background screening and be fingerprinted through the school board of the county where the placement will occur. No one can enter a public school without prior clearance. Specific information regarding the cost and procedures about each county fingerprinting process is included in the Field Experience Handbook located under the Forms section.

Education students should read the Field Experience Handbook and email the Field Experience Office if there are any questions.

Field Experience Forms

There is quite a bit of important information and several forms all students will need as part of the field experience process.

Field Experience Courses

The courses below are subject to the specific degree you plan to pursue. Please consult your degree plan to make sure you are taking classes accordingly.

Associate in Arts (A.A.)

EDF 1005- Introduction to Education (18 field experience hours)

EDG 2085 (formerly 2701) - Teaching Diverse Populations (18 field experience hours)

These classes require the student to observe a classroom setting. The student will not be left alone with the students and is not teaching in this stage.

Associate in Science (A.S.)

EDG 2940- Observing and Recording Child Behavior (120 field experience hours)

EDG 2941- Supervised Student Participation (60 field experience hours)

EDG 2940 is designed for students to observe and record the behavior of young children in a child care facility. EDG 2941 is designed for students to apply acquired knowledge and skills through supervised work experience in child care facilities.

Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

Please consult your personal degree audit as the program has changed. It is permissible for some of the classes to have been taken as a part of the A.A. or A.S. degree. If you entered the program from 2010 through 2012 your classes should include:

Each class below requires 6 field experience hours unless otherwise noted.

Hours filled in a Birth through Grade 3 setting

EDG 2941- Supervised Student Participation (60 field experience hours)

EEC 3400- Family Literacy and Young Children

EEC 4301- Cognitive Experiences for Young Children

EEC 4404- Relations Across Family-School-Community

EEC 4624- Creative and Affective Experiences for Young Children

EEX 4231-Assessing Progress of Young Children with Special Needs

LAE 4416- Children’s Literature in Early Childhood Education *dependent on year of admittance*

Hours filled in a VPK setting

EDG 2940- Observing and Recording Child Behavior (120 field experience hours)

Hours filled in a VPK through Grade 3 setting

EDP 4503- Assessment, Evaluation, and Diagnosis of the Young Child

EEC 4706- Language and Literacy in Early Childhood Education *dependent on year of admittance*

Hours filled in a K through Grade 3 setting

EEC 4219-  Integrated Science and Math for Young Children

EDG 4410- Classroom Management/Child Guidance

Fingerprinting Costs

The fingerprinting cost associated with the different local counties is denoted below. Students should be prepared to pay this amount if requesting placement in the public school systems. Fingerprinting appointments should be scheduled during the first week of class. Detailed procedures for scheduling appointments for the counties notated below are documented within the Field Experience Handbook. The student will have to refer to the school district website for counties not listed below.

• Baker County: $54.50
• Clay County: $97.25
• Duval County: $78.50
• Nassau County: $78.50
• St. Johns County: $57

The field experience office will assist students with field placement in public schools. Students may not be placed in the grade level they choose as their first preference, because placement depends on availability. Each district has a different process of fingerprinting and placement. Please refer to the Field Experience Handbook and email the Field Experience Office if there are any questions.