Welcome to the Field Experiences of the Missouri Baptist University Teacher Education Program!
We hope this phase of your training will be an exciting and rewarding time. Field experiences are systematically selected to provide opportunities for education students to observe, plan and practice in a variety of settings appropriate to the professional roles for which they are preparing. These experiences are accompanied by professional feedback to students from cooperating teachers and field supervisors in order to encourage best practices.
Courses are designed to give students the opportunity to prepare for all teaching responsibilities under the supervision of a member of the School of Teacher Education faculty and a cooperating school professional. The purposes of these experiences are to nurture intellectual and leadership capacity; to promote continuous improvement of teaching skill; knowledge of subject matter and pedagogy; to encourage the use of best available research and practices; to improve understanding of how students differ developmentally and culturally; to increase expertise in teaching strategies and use of technologies; and to engage in continuous reflective evaluation of performance. The student will have the opportunity to develop positive interpersonal relationships with various individuals that comprise the learning community.
The Director of Field Experiences must approve all field experience and student teaching assignments. All students need to be aware of MBU’s Student Teacher Placement Practices before submitting a Field Experience Request Form.
Field Experience and Student Teacher Placement Practices
Phase I: Exploring the Profession
EDCL 211 Teaching Field Experience I – In this introduction to the teaching profession, students are given support and guidance as they observe and act as a classroom teacher’s aid in a setting most directly related to their preferred area(s) of certification. During their 30 clock hour of observation, students are required to present one lesson under the direction of the classroom teacher with whom they are working. This beginning field experience is designed to provide the students with the opportunity to experience classroom instruction and behavior with students in age-appropriate groups. The objective is for the university students to reflect on their initial decision to pursue a teaching career and to evaluate the age level of students with whom they feel most suited. During this initial field experience, the university students have opportunity to rethink previous decisions and choices for study in the event they find themselves unsuited for a career in education or on a particular level of instruction. At this point, students still have ample time to change their course of study if this is the appropriate decision.
Students will be concurrently enrolled in EDUC 210 Teaching Field Experience I Seminar, which is designed to develop students into professional and reflective practitioners. Students will explore issues of self-assessment and self-improvement, professional learning opportunities, and rights, responsibilities, and ethical practices of teachers.
Students transferring a course equivalent to EDCL 211 Teaching Field Experience I are required to complete EDCL 220 Transfer Field Experience at MBU. However, those with a signed MEES (or equivalent) evaluation from a cooperating teacher and/or field supervisor may be exempt from this requirement upon review and approval of the evaluation paperwork.
Phase II: Professional Standing
300-and 400/500-level education courses – Based on the students’ Phase I field experiences and the insight they were able to benefit from being in the classroom experiencing education from a “front row seat,” MBU students are now at the point in their education that they can make insightful and practical decisions about continuing in the teacher education program. In the Phase I experience, students were primarily observers and less participants in the actual teaching and learning process. During Phase II field experiences, students draw from their experiences, decisions, and choices they have made because of those experiences and are better prepared to be more participatory in the classroom experience. During this phase, students are expected to experience teaching and learning through a variety of field experiences in different classroom settings embedded in the syllabi in various courses relating to the grade-level and/or subject(s) in which they are seeking certification. These courses are denoted as “SFE” or Seminar and Field Experience. Students assume more independence in planning and presenting lessons, but still are given ample faculty and professional support. These field experiences are combined with opportunities for reflective discussion, student interaction, problem solving, and journaling. During these experiential activities, students are required to present multiple lessons in a variety of content areas, using various instructional strategies, but all focused on professional competency based on the Missouri Teacher Standards or Missouri Standards for School Librarians. An integral part of these courses and field experiences is the interchange among university students in the class, the cooperating field teacher, and university faculty. This is a time for critical thinking and exploration of the profession based on a problem-solving methodology.
EDCL 411/511 Field Experience II – In Phase II, students are given opportunity to participate in the teaching and learning process and are required to think critically and reflectively about their performance, their competency, and their contribution to the students in their classrooms. Teaching now has become the profession of choice and students who spend quality time being actively involved in classroom activities have a great advantage over students who have not had the opportunity to experience the classroom first hand. During this 45-clock hour field experience, MBU students further refine their teaching competencies as they work independently with a cooperating teacher and with faculty supervision to prepare and present three lessons in a grade/subject area relating to their certification preference. The university students are solely responsible for providing extensively planned and coordinated lessons and are accountable for the results. The integration of curriculum, instruction, and assessment is the primary objective of this level of experience. Students are expected to continually seek ways to improve their competency in areas which are the most personally and professionally challenging.
Students will be concurrently enrolled in EDUC 410/510 Teaching Field Experience II Seminar. Topics covered will include placement information and expectations, planning for student teaching and professional collaboration. Students will explore issues related to collegial activities, collaboration with others in the school system to meet student needs, and cooperative partnerships in support of student learning.
School of Teacher Education Spartan Academy
Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle School, and Secondary teacher candidates may apply to complete Field Experience II and Student Teaching in a Missouri Baptist University partner school. Students who are accepted for the SOE Spartan Academy will agree to the following:
- Forego the traditional Missouri Baptist academic calendar and follow the district school calendar for both semesters.
- Attend the regular school day for the two required days during the Field II experience, spending time in various classrooms at the site.
- Attend the co-requisite seminar course for Field Experience II.
- Attend the regular school day five days a week during the student teaching semester.
- Will have opportunities to participate in school- and district-based professional learning, participate in grade level and data team meetings, attend parent teacher conferences and Individual Education Plan meetings, and substitute for the school/district (if eligible for a substitute certificate), among other benefits.
SOTE Spartan Academy gives students the chance to experience a complete school year from beginning to end. Students will work with and support teachers who have a variety of teaching styles and methods that will enhance the student’s development as a teacher, while supporting student learning and achievement.
For information about the School of Teacher Education Spartan Academy, please see the Spartan Academy Handbook.
Please contact Mr. Phil Ragusky regarding the application process for Spartan Academy.
Documents for Field Experience Placement
The following forms and information are a part of the field experience placement process for all students. Application deadlines are August 1st for Fall semester placement and December 1st for Spring semester placement.
MBU requires that you have liability insurance through S-MSTA when you are in the classroom observing or student teaching. S-MSTA membership includes $2,000,000 in liability insurance. There is no cost for membership. Students need to apply online at http://www.msta.org/join/ for the annual membership (July 1-July 1). Proof of membership must be submitted to the Field Experiences Office on the Main campus prior to beginning your observations, field experience, or student teaching.
International students will need to complete the following Curricular Practical Training (CPT) form which must be submitted to the International Student Office and approved before beginning any field placements.
Curricular Practical Training – EDUCATION DIVISION
Field Experience Requirements
See the course syllabus above for specific information regarding assignments for EDCL 211 Teaching Field Experience I and EDCL 411 or 511 Teaching Field Experience II.
Emergency Contact Information – Fillable Form
Permission Form – Student Work
Missouri Teacher Standards Field Experience Competency Journal – Fillable Form with Rubric