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Note: This is the 2011–2012 edition of the eCalendar. Update the year in your browser's URL bar for the most recent version of this page, or click here to jump to the newest eCalendar.
Note: This is the 2011–2012 edition of the eCalendar. Update the year in your browser's URL bar for the most recent version of this page, or click here to jump to the newest eCalendar.
The Office of Student Teaching (OST), www.mcgill.ca/ost, is responsible for arranging the placement and evaluation of all student teachers in supervised Field Experiences.
Field Experiences:
Newly admitted students:
Returning students:
Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the policies and rules governing all aspects of Field Experience, including pedagogical and professional behaviour, available at www.mcgill.ca/ost.
Students should not engage in any type of employment during Field Experience, nor register for any course that might interfere with the successful outcome of a Field Experience.
Detailed guidelines and evaluation forms for every Field Experience are posted on the OST website, arranged by program and year. Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the objectives, evaluation criteria, and forms for each level of Field Experience, and must submit all completed evaluation forms to the OST on the first business day following the end of the Field Experience in order to receive a grade.
Punctual attendance is required at the assigned school for the entire Field Experience. Alternate dates cannot be arranged at the request of the student. Unexcused absences from intensive courses and professional seminars may result in exclusion from the course, course failure, and/or removal from any associated Field Experience.
Days absent due to illness or Æ»¹ûÒùÔº exams must be made up at the end of the Field Experience. Absences due to illness longer than a few days require a valid medical note (see www.mcgill.ca/studenthealth/notes) to be submitted to the OST, and the outcome of the Field Experience will be evaluated on an individual basis. Student teachers must contact the following people as soon as possible on the morning of the day of their absence:
Student teachers are permitted to be absent for religious holy days, as outlined in Æ»¹ûÒùÔº's Policy for the Accommodation of Religious Holy Days; see www.mcgill.ca/student-records/holydays. Students must notify the OST, cooperating teacher, and field supervisor before the Field Experience begins if possible, or at least two weeks before the planned absence. The missed days must be made up, usually at the end of the Field Experience.
Absences related to Æ»¹ûÒùÔº Intercollegiate Sport events are evaluated by the director of the OST on a case-by-case basis. Student teachers must submit a signed copy of the Intercollegiate Sport Event Accommodation form (see www.mcgill.ca/deanofstudents/intercollegiateaccommodation) to the OST at least two weeks in advance of each conflict.
Absences for any other reason, including but not limited to: marriage, family parties, vacation, university extracurricular activities, employment, or conflicting courses, are not permitted during Field Experience under any circumstances. Students should consult an academic adviser if they need to rearrange their course schedule.
See Faculty Regulations for Undergraduate Programs > Judicial Record Verification for Students in the Bachelor of Education Programs for information on the requirement to obtain this security clearance. Additional information can be found on the OST website.
International students (students who are not Permanent Residents or citizens of Canada) must apply for an internship/co-op work permit issued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada as a requirement for their mandatory Field Experiences. This is not the same as an off-campus work permit. The internship/co-op work permit is free of charge, but takes time to obtain and may require a medical exam. Detailed instructions are available on the OST website. For assistance with the application students should contact International Student Services, www.mcgill.ca/internationalstudents. Students must submit a copy of their valid permit to the OST before the Field Experience starts.
Field Experiences are graded "Pass/Fail". Students must submit all completed evaluation forms to the OST immediately following their Field Experience in order to receive a grade.
Where a student is experiencing serious difficulties in a Field Experience but has demonstrated some potential to successfully reach the required standard, the student will be granted a "D" grade. In this case, the director of the OST has the authority to grant special permission for a student to repeat a Field Experience during the next term in which the course is offered. This special permission will be granted once only in a student's program. Students receiving a "D" grade are also required to repeat the corequisite seminar or other corequisite course as specified by the director. The original grade for the corequisite seminar or course will be excluded from the GPA and credits; only the second grade will be retained.
Students must receive a Pass grade in order to proceed in the B.Ed. program. Failure (F, J, KF, WF) in any Field Experience places a student in Unsatisfactory Standing, requiring withdrawal from the Teacher Education Program. Students who fail in a Fall term Field Experience may be allowed to continue taking courses in the program to enable transfer to another faculty.
A student may appeal a failing grade or termination of a Field Experience by making a formal application to the Executive Director, Student Affairs.
At any time, students may be removed from their Field Experience placement at the request of the host school administrator and cooperating teacher, or at the request of the Director of Student Teaching. Students who are removed from a Field Experience placement will be informed of the reason for the termination and will meet with the Director.
Circumstances that could lead to termination include, but are not limited to:
The final outcome for a Field Experience that is terminated will be decided by the director of Student Teaching.
Possible outcomes are:
If a student cannot continue the Field Experience due to illness, see Withdrawal from Field Experience.
If a student chooses to end his or her Field Experience, the director of Student Teaching will evaluate the circumstances and determine an outcome. Possible outcomes are the same as those listed above.
Students who have acquired formal teaching experience prior to admission to the Bachelor of Education program may be granted exemption from the first Field Experience and corequisite seminar. Written requests must be made to the Director of the OST by August 31 of the year of admission. Requirements for supporting documentation can be found on the OST website, www.mcgill.ca/ost. Exemption does not reduce the number of credits students need to graduate. Students should consult an academic adviser to discuss their plan of study.
Students who previously completed a Field Experience at another university may be eligible for transfer credit (advanced standing). Contact an academic adviser to discuss this possibility. Students may need to submit a syllabus for the course so that the OST can determine equivalency.
For general information about exemptions and transfer credits at Æ»¹ûÒùÔº, see www.mcgill.ca/students/transfercredit, as well as Faculty-specific information at www.mcgill.ca/edu-sao/new/advancedstanding.