12 LYCOMING COLLEGE FIELD EXPERIENCES All teacher candidates participate in field experiences prior to student teaching. The Pennsylvania Department of Education’s (PDE) Chapter 49 established competencies for field work and a specific structure for completion of these requirements. All teacher candidates must complete a four-stage structure and demonstrate evidence of meeting the competencies identified with each stage. Professors will be evaluating each student’s field performance and verifying that students completed each stage. The student teaching (professional semester) component of approved programs in the Commonwealth is expected to involve institution faculty with knowledge and expertise in the certification area being pursued by a teacher candidate. Candidates learn to identify and conduct themselves as members of the profession. Candidates know and use ethical guidelines and other professional standards related best practices. In some cases, the Cooperating Teacher evaluates the Lycoming College Teacher candidate during field experiences by using a “Host (Cooperating) Teacher Evaluation on Teacher Candidate Field Experience” form. The evaluation form will be provided when an evaluation is requested. PDE’s Chapter 49 field experiences stages Stage 1: Observation Stage 2: Exploration Stage 3: Pre-Student Teaching Stage 4: Student Teaching Students are observers in a variety of education and education-related settings including community-based childcare, early intervention and school districts. Observations should occur in a range of school and early learning settings so that students have a broad experience and learn as much as possible about the learner and educational philosophy. This is an experience in which the candidate works under the teachers’ supervision during individual tutorials or small group of students. Activities can include reading, subject matter experiences, small group conversions, outdoor play and monitoring classroom routines and procedures. Teacher candidates work with a district teacher and classroom students to further develop knowledge of content areas and standards related to them; knowledge of integrated curriculum; ability to plan, implement, assess and reflect on lessons and educational activities; ability to communicate effectively with students, peers and supervisors. Students are expected to work with materials they have prepared and created for classroom instruction. Teacher candidates successfully use knowledge, skills and dispositions gained in Stages one through three. There is a minimum of 12 weeks, required by PDE, but Lycoming College’s professional semester is a 14-week placement. Stage Activities that help the candidate acquire the knowledge /skills in this area
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