For Students : goals of Early Field Experiences

For Students: Goals of Early Field Experiences

Indiana University's School of Education offers early field experiences to its future teachers for several purposes:

to learn if teaching is the right career for the student;
to see teaching in actual classrooms;
to observe diverse aspects of children's lives: academic, social, physical, and emotional;
to experience teaching small and large groups before student teaching;
to integrate theory and practice;
to learn from experienced teachers;
to observe and reflect on different teaching and management strategies.

The Early Field Experiences Office facilitates these experiences. It locates teachers willing to work with IU students, coordinates classroom and agency visits with students' schedules, and verifies that each student's experiences meet state requirements for teacher certification.