How many clock hours of clinical experiences are required for this course, and how are those hours counted?
Thirty-five clock hours of clinical experience are required as part of this (4 semester hour) course if you are a major in this department; non-majors may take this class without registering for the credit associated with clinical experiences (3 semester hours) and need not perform the associated clinical experiences. It should be noted that only on-school-site hours will be counted. The only exception to this policy is stated below. Preparation time, report writing time, and the like are not normally counted in the thirty-five clock hours.
Other methods course instructors allowed me to count preparation time and report-writing time as part of clinical experience clock hours. Why won't you?
This course is for the major by the major department; it is here that the expectations are highest. This methods course with its associated clinical experiences may prove to be the single most important education course you will take at this university. Reports from our students indicate that clinical experiences are very valuable transitional activities in preparation for student teaching. Reducing the number of on-school-site hours by allowing for travel, preparation, and report-writing time is no service to either the student or the profession.
I already have completed more than 100 clinical experience clock hours. If I am a major in this department, must I still perform all the clinical experiences associated with this class?
Yes, this department requires completion of thirty-five hours of clinical experience of students in the major. Even though the student may have more than 100 clinical experience clock hours on record, these are not necessarily the same experiences the department deems most appropriate for students in its program. The successful completion of all 35 clock hours of clinical experiences is a prerequisite for a passing grade for physics teacher education majors enrolled in this course.
May I perform all of my clinical experiences at one site?
No, you must parcel out the clinical experiences to at least three sites. No more than ten (10) hours of clinical experiences will be accepted from any site other than the future student teaching site. The reason for this is to acquaint the clinical student with differences among teachers, students, and school systems, and provide data for comparisons.
How do I find out about requirements for clinical experiences?
During 1994-95 school year the Alliance for Scientific Literacy, a collaborative of some forty ISU methods course instructors, high school teachers, and administrators created the Clinical Experiences & Student Teaching Handbook. The Handbook will serve as the guide to your clinical and student teaching experiences. It fully details required activities, and provides procedures and criteria for the completion of each experience. Clinical experiences may be added or substituted by the course instructor for some of the Handbook's activities.
May I come up with or create my own clinical experiences?
You may not come up with or create your own clinical experiences without the consent and prior approval of your course instructor. In the past students enrolled in this class have attempted, on their own, to substitute certain activities for the prescribed clinical experiences associated with this class. These clinical experiences were disallowed.
When will school-based clinical experiences start?
A series of on-campus clinical experiences must be completed successfully by students before they are allowed to move to off-campus high school sites. Students will begin their off-campus clinical experiences around the second or third week of the semester. Students will have approximately three months to complete the remaining clinical experiences. Specified on-campus clinical experiences will be counted in the thirty-five hour total.
Where will I be performing my clinical experiences?
Your methods course instructor has made arrangements for your clinical experiences at a number of area high schools, including the one in which you will be student teaching. Because you have already completed a number of clinical experiences at University High School, students will not be permitted to use that site for clinical experiences unless specifically directed or permitted to do so by the course instructor. Clinical experiences performed at U-High without the prior consent of the course instructor will be considered null and void.
Do I need to contact the cooperating teacher prior to my visits and, if so, how should I contact the cooperating teacher?
Generally, it's a good idea to contact the cooperating teacher prior to your first visit. Necessary information will be provided you in a separate handout at the appropriate time.
What should I keep in mind when I arrive at the high school clinical sites?
First, park legally. ISU students are guests at these schools and should act accordingly. Park temporarily (normally in student or visitor parking) and check in with the main office or other designated site to obtain parking instructions and permit (if needed), and to inform the administration of your presence on the school grounds (legal requirement). Only after you have parked legally and checked in with the administration should you move on to the classroom. If you are required to wear a name tag, be certain that you do so.
Would you give me any advice or pointers to keep in mind so as to make my clinical experiences as useful and as positive as possible?
Yes! In the introductory portion of the Clinical Experiences & Student Teaching Handbook there is a section dealing with just this topic. Please read it over and follow the advice found therein.
How will my grade for clinical experiences be determined?
Your grade will be determined by your methods course instructor on the
basis of information contained in a documentation folder that you will create
as part of the clinical experiences process. A grading rubric will be used
to ensure fair and consistent assessment. This rubric will be provided to
you by you methods course instructor.