Pre-Student Teaching Clinical Experience Self-Placement Form

Use the pre-student teaching clinical experience self-placement form (pdf) with instructor approval to engage in course related clinical experiences while you are on break/away from the campus and closer to your home communities or where you may have established relationships with school or other agency professionals.

Faculty Affirmation Form of Diverse Field/Clinical Experience at the Instructional Level

Use this form (pdf) when the ISU criteria for a diverse field/clinical experience is applicable at the instructional level (classroom, club program, etc.) but not at the school building/agency level.

 

Diverse Field Experiences Requirements

Required for all teacher candidates

As a teacher education candidate, you are required to have a minimum 50 hours of diverse field experience. These experiences must meet the Council for Teacher Education approved definition of diverse field experiences.

The hours are part of the required 100 clinical hours prior to student teaching, not in addition to. If you do not have the minimum 50 hour requirement prior to student teaching, a diverse student teaching experience will be located for your student teaching placement. (This requirement is being phased in for teacher candidates, similar to catalog requirements.)

The 50 hours are included in coursework from among the three teacher education constituents:

• Educational Administration and Foundations courses require 10 clinical hours.
• Curriculum and Instruction courses require 20 clinical hours (40 hours if a C&I major).
• Specific program areas require 20 clinical hours (40 hours if a Special Education major).

These experiences are not just limited to a school setting. Your course instructor may also consider a setting such as the Boys and Girls Clubs, Special Olympics, after-school programs, virtual experiences, etc.

What settings are considered diverse for a field experience?

A diverse field experience setting is one that meets or exceeds enrollment in at least two of the following four categories:

• English Language Learners enrollment of 10% or more
• Students of color enrollment of 20% or more
• Students from low income families enrollment of 20% or more
• Students with Disabilities (5% or at least one student with a disability in a teaching/instructional setting.)

All public school criteria data, except for students with disabilities data, can be accessed by visiting the Illinois Interactive Report Card Web site.

The Teacher Education Center is currently collecting data about students with disabilities from school districts as well as all criteria for non-public schools and non-school agencies which are not identified at the Illinois Interactive Report Card Web site. Learn how to find if a school meets the diversity criteria.