EDUC 2500 StudentS

EDUC 2500 is an opportunity for students to observe and work within diverse environments with children and adolescents. Supporting social inclusion and engagement is explored within the context of positive interactions and relationship development addressing  the diverse and contextual needs of learners. This field experience has a focus on learning support for students in classrooms. Field Experience hours will be 24 hours (8 weeks x 3 hour observations in schools).

Please also note the following information about EDUC 2500:

• Students will be placed in groups of 2 per classroom (as appropriate to the school context). 

• This time will be used to support student learning, one on one, or in small groups with learning interventions to support the classroom teacher.

• Intervention support strategies will be coached by the mentor teacher. As well, knowledge and skills on intervention support will come from EDUC 2500 course outcomes.

• EDUC 2500 students will complete a class diversity profile as part of their course requirement. 

• At the end of the EDUC 2500 field experience, pre-service teachers will complete a self reflective evaluation. There is an opportunity for the mentor (supervising) teacher to comment on the pre-service teacher’s areas of strength and areas for growth.

See the EDUC 2500 Course Overview for further information.

After the following deadlines have passed, students cannot register in a practicum course, regardless of the seats that may be available. Our registration deadlines exists months before the start of term in order to allow our Ed Practicum Office (CEED Centre) time to properly arrange placements for all of our students. Our practicum placement personnel work diligently to ensure that students have completed all the prerequisites, submitted the required documentation, and are placed in a suitable practicum location. We also work with a large number of practicum partners who require advance notice to be able to locate suitable practicum mentors, verify site eligibility, and provide legal documentation required for placement.

Fall Term: July 1

Winter Term: November 1

**Note: RDP typically does not offer practicums during the Spring term.

If you feel that you have extenuating circumstances, please contact edpracticum@rdpolytech.ca to discuss.

1. Confirm the course requirements for your practicum. If you are unsure if you meet the course requirements, see your Academic Planning Guide for your program. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are eligible for your practicum course. Students who are not eligible will be dropped during a routine prerequisite check. If you have not met the prerequisites for your practicum course, you will not have the necessary background to successfully complete your practicum. You will need to defer your practicum to another term. Please reach out to an Academic Advisor in our Student Connect Centre at www.rdpolytech.ca/advising to discuss. If you make any changes to your registration that may affect prerequisites, you must inform the Ed Practicum Office at edpracticum@rdpolytech.ca. 

2. Submit the Practicum Request Form. After the registration deadline has passed for the term, students who are registered or waitlisted in a practicum course will be emailed (via RDP email) a Practicum Checklist, which will include the Practicum Request Form. This form is used to initiate the placement request process for your practicum. If the information that you provide in your Practicum Request Form changes between the submission deadline and the start of practicum, this may require that you postpone practicum to a later term. 

** If the information that you provide in your Practicum Request Form changes between the submission deadline and the start of practicum, this may require that you postpone practicum to a later term.   

3. Review the B.Ed Required Documents webpage for information about the different documents required for practicum and how to submit these documents to our office.

4. Review the following documents:

   1. 1. • EDUC 1500/2500 Preparing for Field Experience

         • B.Ed Student FAQ

         • Alberta Teachers' Association Code of Conduct

5. Check your RDP email (@rdpolytech.ca) on a frequent basis! Your RDP email (available through the Loop) is activated within 24 hours of registration in classes. If you do not have access to your RDP email, contact RDP IT Services immediately. You will receive communication from the CEED Centre (edpracticum@rdpolytech.ca) with information regarding your placement. Students will be advised of their practicum placement a few weeks before the beginning of the placement start date. Flexibility with confirmation is required as the CEED Centre  works with a large number of division partners to determine successful placements. 

6. Carefully review the information that has been provided in the sections below in further preparation for your practicum placement.

Role and Responsibility 

Adapted from: Lipton, L. & Wellman, B. (2003). Mentoring matters: A practical guide to learning-focused relationships, 2nd Ed. Sherman CT. MiraVia, LLC

The role of the pre-service teacher is based on some key principles:

• still have much to learn about putting their knowledge to work

• develop their own teaching styles over time

• develop active listening and consultation skills

• are committed to reflective practice

• develop observation and analytic strategies to enhance their teaching effectiveness

The responsibilities of the pre-service teacher are to:

• develop his or her own capacity for self-directed problem-solving and learning

• maintain a relationship with the mentor consistent with the Code of Professional Conduct

• observe the variety of roles a teacher takes on and assist the teacher by working one on one or with small groups of students

• will provide literacy tutoring with students in one on one and small group

Please review the EDUC 2500 Professional Growth Plan.

To access the EDUC 2500 Field Experience Self Reflection, click here. 

Absenses

• It is important that students keep space in their timetable to attend the placement school for the scheduled field experience. 

• Students should avoid scheduling appointments during these hours. 

• A schedule will be set between the student, the mentor teacher, and the instructor. 

• Absence concerns will be addressed with each student. Lack of attendance may impact the student’s ability to successfully complete the course. 

• Students must contact the placement school and their instructor to inform them of any absences in advance.

Snow Days & Bus Cancellations

If the buses are not running but schools are open, this means that the teachers who can get to school safely will and teachers who cannot get to school safely will not. Professional and personal judgement comes into play here for you. 

In ATA contracts, there is an expectation that teachers make a reasonable effort to attend work. Pre-service teachers may not go in, they may go in later in the day as the road conditions and weather clear up, etc. Whatever the choice is, pre-service teachers must communicate with the mentor teacher and instructor and make the best decision for their safety.  

• B.Ed Student FAQ

• Alberta Teaching Quality Standard

• Alberta Teachers' Association 'Taking Flight' Field Experience Support

• Suggested Language to Support Preservice Teacher Development

• ATA Online tool to support learning of the competencies