FAQ's

Placements

What is considered local Edmonton area?

40 kilometers from Edmonton city centre is considered a Local (Edmonton Area) placement. This includes Ardrossan, Beaumont, Devon, Fort Saskatchewan, Leduc, Morinville, St. Albert, Sherwood Park, Spruce Grove, and Stony Plain. 

Where can I do a regional placement?

Students are encouraged to apply for a regional placement. Generally, we can place students from Red Deer and north, provided the school teaches Alberta curricula. For placements outside of this area, including Calgary, contact Roberta Baril at baril@ualberta.ca.

What if you cannot place me in the regional areas that I requested. Could I be placed anywhere?

If it is not possible to place you in the regional town or city that you requested, the regional placement coordinator will contact you to discuss further options. If a suitable regional placement is not possible, you will be placed in the local Edmonton area.

What if I have a concern about where I am placed?

 If you have a concern about where you have been placed, please contact the elementary, secondary or regional placement coordinator within 2 business days after placement information is released. (edfx.elementary@ualberta.ca  /  edfx.secondary@ualberta.ca  /  edfx.regional@ualberta.ca) 

My placement is located on the other side of the city. Why couldn't I be placed closer to where I live?

Program match is the primary criterion for student teacher placement. Every effort is made to place pre-service teachers within a reasonable traveling distance from their place of residence. Based on available school sites this cannot be guaranteed. Paragraph (11) of 73.2.3 university calendar: "Access to transportation is not considered in making placements in the Edmonton area. Placements can be made anywhere in the Greater Edmonton area including Devon, Fort Saskatchewan, Leduc, Morinville, St. Albert, Sherwood Park, Spruce Grove, Stony Plain, Ardrossan, and Beaumont.

Can I request a specific school or teacher for my field experience?

We attempt to ensure a placement for the best possible field experience for our students by placing you only with mentor teachers recommended by their principal. Pre-service teachers MAY NOT and MUST NOT recruit/select their own school or mentor teacher. The field experience staff have the authority and responsibility for arranging all pre-service teaching placements. Note: A school principal may make a formal request for a particular individual pre-service teacher to be placed at their school using the Principal Request Form (deadlines apply).  

Are placements made on a ‘first come, first served’ basis?

No, we wait until the online registration closes before we start matching students to schools.

When and where will I find my field experience information?

Fall term placements are posted by the end of September. Winter term placements are posted by the end of January. At that time, students can access their placement information on campusBridge.

Can I trade placements with another student?

No. Pre-service teachers are placed with a great deal of effort according to established criteria. If you have a concern about where you have been placed, please follow the instructions in the placement information email. 

Registration

What if I cannot register in the classes linked to the field experience?

Contact Education Student Services for help from a student advisor.

When can I register, and what are the deadlines, to complete the online registration?

The campusBRIDGE registration is available in early April for the following fall and winter terms. The deadline to complete this information is usually the first week of September for the fall term and the third week of November for the winter term. 

What if I miss the deadline to complete the online registration?

As long as you are registered in an EDFX course, we will attempt to arrange a placement for you, but you will not be able to indicate any preferences. Email a placement coordinator for further information.

Field Experience

What is a Field Experience Associate (FEA)?

Field experiences associates are University of Alberta personnel (master teachers) who provide leadership and assist with coordinating field experiences.

How is the field experience course graded?

You will either receive credit (a CR notation) or will not receive credit (NC) on your transcript. There is no number or letter grade. You will also receive a written final assessment from your mentor teacher that you will use when applying for teaching positions. 

If I do a field experience in the winter, will I get the U of A reading week?

Please review the Dates by District document on the home page. During your field experience, you will follow the school’s calendar, not the university calendar. For example, if the school district has a fall or spring break during your placement, you will also have a break. If university reading week occurs during your placement, you will not get reading week. 

What are alternative calendar or year-round schools?

Several schools in the Edmonton area operate on an alternative calendar.  Placements for pre-service teachers assigned to one of these schools will be extended as required.

What happens when a substitute teacher replaces my mentor teacher?

Where the absence of the mentor teacher is likely to be of short duration, a substitute may fulfill the role of mentor teacher. If the absence is of a longer duration, the school coordinator and university facilitator or FEA should be involved in determining a course of action.

Who should I contact if I am experiencing a problem during the field experience?

Pre-service teachers should begin by discussing the problem with their mentor teacher. If it cannot be resolved at that level, they should make contact with their university facilitator or FEA. Refer to the Dealing with Issues section.

Who should I contact if I decide to withdraw from field experience?

If problems arise prior to or during the field experience that necessitate deletion or withdrawal from the EDFX course, please communicate this to your mentor teacher and university facilitator or FEA. Deleting or withdrawing  is completed on Beartracks. Refer to the Field Experience Dates document for deletion and withdrawal deadlines.