Community Field Experience (CFE) EDUC 430

Discover education beyond borders and traditional classroom settings

Pre-requisite: Successful completion of EDUC 418/419, 495, 496 Extended Practicum.

Research informs us that such “non-formal” educational involvement helps teachers develop a broader, more holistic view of education than practicum limited to classroom settings. The community field experience is guided by research and based on beliefs that teacher candidates, community partners and students all benefit.

Following successful completion of a school-based extended practicum, all teacher candidates in the BEd program participate in a three-week community field experience.

In most cases, the CFE occurs outside of schools in placements hosted by community partners. Some field experiences take place in a school context that is very different from the extended practicum site, and others take place in locations across the province, country and internationally.

By taking part in the CFE, teacher candidates expand their concept of potential learning sites and how they might get involved, either as a career option or as a classroom teacher with an understanding of educational community connections. During the initial registration process, teacher candidates indicate their preference for a community field experience placement by theme or geographic region.