FAQs
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. A placement is considered "regional" if the school is located more than 40 km from Edmonton.
What if you cannot place me in the regional areas that I requested (will they place me 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, please come to Education Student Services during inquiry days (typically the Monday and Tuesday following the release of placement information to students). Details about inquiry days will be emailed to you in advance.
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 student teachers within a reasonable traveling distance from their place of residence, however, 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, and Stony Plain.”
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. Schools may make a formal request for a particular individual student teacher using the Principal Request Form (deadlines apply). Student Teachers MAY NOT and MUST NOT recruit/select their own school or mentor teacher. The Undergraduate Student Services office has the authority and responsibility for arranging all student teaching placements.
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 out where my field experience is?
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 through the online registration.
Can I trade placements with another student?
No. Student 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 come to Education Student Services during the scheduled inquiry days and speak to a field experience associate.
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 start, 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 for a regional placement for fall term is usually early May and for winter term early November. The deadline to complete this step for a local placement for fall term is typically the beginning of September and early November for the winter term. Please consult the main FX website for exact dates and deadlines.
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 Experiences 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 evaluation that contains a description and evaluation of your student teaching experience.
If I do a Field Experience in the winter, will I get the U of A reading week?
Please review the field experience: Dates document on the home page. During your field experience, you will follow the school’s calendar. When you are attending classes on campus, you will follow the U of A calendar.
What are alternative calendar or year-round schools?
Several schools in the Edmonton area operate on an alternative calendar. Placements for student 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 should be involved in determining a course of action.
Who should I contact if I am experiencing a problem during the Field Experience?
Student 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. If the problem is still not satisfactorily resolved, the student teacher should then contact their Field Experience associate.
Who should I contact if I decide to withdraw from Field Experience?
If problems arise prior to or during the field experience that necessitate withdrawal from student teaching, please communicate this to your mentor teacher and university facilitator. Withdrawal is completed on Beartracks.