Orientation to Internship and Practicum at University of West Georgia
The Office of Field Experiences at the University of West Georgia prepares candidates for field experiences by ensuring they meet requirements, tracking placements, and supporting candidates to be effective teachers. The team includes Helen Chambers and Cindy Saxon. The Field Experiences Handbook and Memorandum of Understanding provide essential information for candidates and interns. Visit the OFE website for more details.
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University of West Georgia Orientation to Internship and Practicum Office of Field Experiences Suite 206 678-839-6102
Goals for Today Provide the necessary logistical information to ensure your success in Internship Clearly explain all responsibilities and expectations regarding field experiences Celebrate your work and your accomplishments
The Office of Field Experiences Ensures candidates meet the field experience requirements of the Georgia Professional Standards Commission. Builds and fosters relationships with school districts and other entities who host our candidates. Tracks all placements to ensure each candidate has diverse experiences required for certification. Seeks to support all candidates in the quest to provide a highly effective teacher in EVERY classroom of EVERY child EVERY year.
Who works in OFE? Helen Chambers Art, Foreign Language, Music, Physical Education, Secondary Education, and Special Education hchamber@westga.edu 678-839-6102 Cindy Saxon Director of OFE csaxon@westga.edu 678-839-6083 770-596-4454
OFE Website https://www.westga.edu/ac ademics/education/ofe.php
Field Experiences Handbook Contains the policies and procedures that provide direction for all field experiences Describes the roles and responsibilities of candidates/interns, cooperating teachers, and university or school-based supervisors Provides the basis for the Memorandum of Understanding all candidates and interns must sign before entering the field each semester Answers many questions that candidates and interns may have about field experiences
Memorandum of Understanding The MOU is a series of expectations to which all candidates and interns MUST adhere. If a candidate or intern cannot abide by these expectations s/he may NOT enter the field (schools). Please complete the MOU by initialing each bulleted statement and signing the last page.
Basics School District calendar Interns (Internship students) follow the calendar of the school district in which they are placed. They do not take all UWG holidays unless the school district has the same holiday. Candidates (Practicum students) follow the UWG calendar of holidays and the calendar of the school district in which they are placed. Contract hours of the school Interns and candidates are expected to work the same hours as the cooperating teacher. Fulltime teaching requirements Interns are expected to teach all day every day for two full weeks taking over ALL responsibilities of the classroom teacher. This should be a progressive shift across the semester. Candidates are in the field two days per week and should take on as many classroom responsibilities as possible.
Professional Dress Requirements If you ask yourself if you should wear a particular item of clothing, the answer is no. Commit this to memory Raise your hands and touch your toes. If anything can be seen that shouldn t, change your clothes!
Basics Attendance as scheduled is required and expected. ALL absences must be made up at the END of the semester. Absences due to sickness or death in the family are excused but must be made up. In the event of absences, interns/candidates must inform the cooperating teacher, the university or school-based supervisor, and the Director of OFE. More than 3 absences will result in the grade of unsatisfactory, and interns/candidates will repeat Internship or Practicum the next semester. THIS will delay graduation. NOTE: This is a policy change
Basics Active engagement means offering assistance to the cooperating teacher and the school community as applicable. Intern/candidates should not merely observe. Cellphone/iPad/computer use in the school site is highly discouraged unless directly related to student learning.
Legal Issues Confidentiality All education records are protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Under NO circumstances may any information be released to or discussed with any unauthorized person. Violation of FERPA is covered by the Georgia Code of Ethics Standard 7. Corporal Punishment Most districts have policies against corporal punishment. With or without policies in place, interns and candidates should NEVER participate in corporal punishment in any form. Dispensing Medication While certified teachers may dispense necessary medications, immunity does NOT extend to UWG candidates participating in field experiences.
Social Media Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. can be dangerous to interns/candidates and certified educators. Review your photos and posts. Hide those that are not flattering to you as a professional. Social media provides students and their parents a view into your private life. Ask yourself would I want my child s teacher to say this or portray themselves in this way?
Internship Grades Internship/Practicum performance evaluation results in a grade of satisfactory or unsatisfactory and is the result of all observations, discussions, journaling, and conferencing between the intern/candidate, the cooperating teacher, and the university or school-based supervisor. Assignments in CourseDen will help you capture the elements of field experiences and internship that expand your skills and knowledge. Intern Keys/CAPS is the observation/evaluation instrument. Become familiar with it!
Host Schools and Districts UWG interns and candidates are guests in schools and districts. In the event an intern/candidate encounters difficulties in the placement, the student should immediately notify the university supervisor or the school-based supervisor. If necessary, the university or school-based supervisor will contact the Director of Field Experiences. If interns/candidates are not comfortable notifying these individuals, they may directly contact the Director of the Office of Field Experiences.
Ethical or Instructional Issues If the cooperating teacher or university/school-based supervisor identifies significant intern/candidate professionalism or performance issues, the university or school-based supervisor will contact the Director of Field Experiences to schedule a conference with the intern/candidate. In most cases, conferences will result in the development of a Professional Growth Plan which will become a part of the intern s/candidate s academic record which is maintained in the College of Education.
Professional Growth Plans Support the ongoing development of the intern/ candidate, move the candidate toward successful completion of the program, and ensure the certification and employability of the intern/candidate Must include the concerns to be addressed, the remediation strategies, and the behavioral expectations for improvement Must be signed by all parties present at the conference Are provided to all attendees and a hard copy will be retained in the Office of Field Experiences.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If school administration requests removal of an intern, a PGP will be developed. If a different placement is approved and the administration of the second school requests removal of the intern, internship will be immediately discontinued. All courses associated with Internship will be assigned a grade of Unsatisfactory or F. OFE is under NO obligation to seek a second placement if an intern is removed from the original placement.
PAGE Presentations Diane Ray College Services Matthew Pence Assistant Legal Counsel
Your Toolbox Take every opportunity to learn from the teachers and leaders in your schools. Collect ideas, strategies, and information to fill your toolbox. The assignments you will find in CourseDen are designed to help you fill your toolbox. Remember to maintain a separate electronic file because you won t have access to CourseDen when the semester ends.
Team Effort Please don t hesitate to talk with your cooperating teacher, your university or school- based supervisor, or the OFE if you encounter any issues in the field. We are your Field Experience Support Team. We are all learning and growing. Our goal is for you to succeed!
Remember If kids come to us from strong, healthy, functioning families, it makes our job easier. If they do not come to us from strong, healthy, functioning families, it makes our job more important. ~Barbara Colorose
Enjoy the Semester What we do is the most important work on the earth. Without us, there are no other professions. Remember to take care of yourself! AGAIN Enjoy the semester!
