EDCI 231 Students must complete a background check (PDF) within 6 months prior to placement.  Those students who are working in the school system where observations will be made can have this requirement waived by completing a Site Supervisor Designation Form  (PDF)verifying this has been done by the employer.  Checks completed through Certified Background are automatically sent to the Office of Field Experiences.  Site Supervisor Designation Forms and other paper background checks such as those obtained directly from the County Court should be submitted with the placement application.

Once the background check is completed, EDCI 231 students must complete 14 hours of observation for their course assignments.  There are two options for completing this requirement:

Option 1 - Self placement:   Students can make arrangements to complete this at their home county school during Fall/Spring Break with prior approval of the school.  Self-placement also applies to those students employed in  the schools where they are being observed.  This is most commonly completed in 2 full days of observation of all school activities including class experiences and lunch duty. 

Option 2:  Students can request the Office of Field Experiences to make a placement in the Western North Carolina region from a pool of volunteer teachers at partner schools.  These usually are completed in a series of 2-4 hour long observation blocks.  In the case of Teaching Fellows, these placements are made by the Teaching Fellows Program.

For both options: 

• Students are responsible for transportation to and from the observation location. 
• The College of Education and Allied Professions recommends that students carry liability insurance (PDF).

Host Teacher Evaluations of Students

Host teachers will be asked to evaluate each student at the end of the observation. The results will be available to both course professors and advisers. Negative evaluations or improper behavior can result in reduced grade, removal from the observation placement or, in extreme cases, removal from the education program. Professional behavior is expected at all times.

Deadlines and Forms:

Students are responsible for completing their required hours in a timely manner to meet deadlines for the Office of Field Experiences and course assignments.  If a student must miss an observation due to illness, emergency, or school closure the student is expected to notify the host teacher ahead of time and make up the missed time as soon as possible.

1st week of classes:

• Office of Field Experiences will begin accepting applications (PDF) and contracts (PDF) from Self-Placed students (Option 1).  The application and completed contract must be submitted simultaneously.  If the observation was completed prior to the beginning of the semester, the timesheet (PDF) should also be submitted at this time. 

2nd week of classes: 

• Office of Field Experiences staff will visit EDCI 231 classes to provide information about the observation experience and make appointments for those students who will be requesting a regional placement from the Office of Field Experiences.  Applications (PDF) will be provided at this time.  Students missing this class should call 828-227-7314 to make an appointment.

3rd week of classes

• Appointments for students requesting a placement from the Office of Field Experiences. 
• Students should also submit an Alternative Assignment Form (PDF) if applicable.  This optional form is used to request up to seven hours of observation activities outside your assigned classroom.
• Students placed by the Office of Field Experiences (Option 2) should begin observations. Important - call teacher ahead of time to confirm visitation schedule, ask for directions, and any other school specific information.

4th Friday of classes

• Deadline to submit application and completed contract (PDF) if making own placement (option 1)
• Deadline to obtain a placement from Office of Field Experiences if requesting a placement (Option 2)

Last Friday of September/February

• Contracts (PDF) due for students who requested a placement by the office of Field Experiences (option 2 - other students submitted contract with application)

Two weeks from end of classes - Friday (Or Before! The earlier the better.)

• Evaluation of Host Teacher by Student- Complete via TaskStream.
• Timesheet (PDF) should be signed by Cooperating Teacher at each visit. Paper form submission to Killian 228 (Fax 828-227-7610). Time sheets are needed for 14 hours of observation per class. This includes any pre-approved alternative assignments. The Office of Field Experiences cannot accept these late. No exceptions.
• The following Monday professors will be advised which students have not completed their Field Experience Requirement. At that point, students with missing hours or paperwork will need to appeal to the Associate Dean to receive course credit.