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EDU 3030 CBE: Diversity, Pedagogy, and Social Change: Fieldwork Parts 1 - 3

Overview

The field experience requirement for this course is 10 hours.

What is field experience? Field experience is your opportunity to observe and assist with prescribed activities in an educational setting. For this course, you can perform your fieldwork in any elementary classroom environment. Contact your faculty member for permission to observe a different grade level. Reach out to your faculty member if you have questions.

 

Who handles my field experience placement? The school placements for CBE sections are self-selected, and you will need to provide Proof of Placement via an email or other documentation from school personnel. If you are local, you may choose to apply to volunteer using the district's website.

 

How do I record my experience? Field experience is two parts. First, your field experience is logged via a signed log of hours and then submitted through Blackboard at the end of each course.  Second, is through a reflection blog that you will develop and answer open ended question that promote a higher level of thinking.

 

Where do I write my blog? Create your blog using a blogging software you choose. Below are suggestions for free online blogging tools. Your blog must be viewable by your instructor in order to receive credit for the assignments.

 

  1. Choose a platform you want to host your blog throughout the program. Blogging website suggestions are below.
  2. Ensure your blog is public or can be shared with your instructors.

 

Check Blackboard for additional details on the field experience requirement for this course. 

Field Experience Blog Part 1

Resources for this fieldwork blog:

Here is a link to the article School Culture Definition:  https://www.edglossary.org/school-culture/

Here is a link to the article How Important is Cultural Diversity at Your School?:  https://www.greatschools.org/gk/articles/cultural-diversity-at-school/

 

Before you write your blog post:

  • Complete your edTPA Context for Learning.
  • Review the two resource articles above.
  • Observe in a school and record practices and interactions throughout the school community. Be sure to observe in all areas of the school. The following areas you don't want to miss:
    • Classrooms
    • Hallways
    • Cafeteria
    • Playground
    • Main Office
    • Teacher-to-Teacher Interactions
    • Administrator-to-Teachers/Staff Interactions
    • School Staff-to-Parent Interactions

 

Write your blog post:

  • Reflect on what you observed in this school. Think holistically about what you saw and heard throughout the entire school community.
  • Does this school have a positive school culture? Explain using specific examples.
  • Does this school have a negative school culture? Explain using specific examples.

 

To ensure confidentiality, avoid using full names or other identifiable information.

Field Experience Blog Part 2

Before you write your blog post:

Take a look at the community surrounding the school you observed in Fieldwork 1.

  • Think about the diversity and cultural norms of the community.
    • Some areas to consider are the: ethnic/racial groups, number/types of faith institutions, types of housing, housing prices, and organizations.
    • Are there patterns in the types of housing, the location of faith institutions, and community organizations in relation to ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic data?
    • What types of transportation are available?
    • What types of services are available for individuals with disabilities, refugees, recent immigrants, or individuals and communities speaking a language other than English?
  • edTPA ideas to consider:
    • edTPA_Elementary_Literacy_Handbook.pdf
    • Make sure you have completed the Context for Learning artifact for your current class (pg. 38 of the edTPA Elementary Literacy Handbook).
    • How can you use your knowledge of your students’ assets to inform your plans? (pg. 11)
      • Task 1 Planning Commentary 2b: Personal, cultural, and community assets —What do you know about your students’ everyday experiences, cultural and language backgrounds and practices, and interests?
      • Task 1 Planning Commentary 3a: Justify how your understanding of your students’ personal, cultural, and community assets may guide your choice or adaptation of learning tasks and materials. Make explicit connections between students’ assets and research/theory.
  • Teachers, parents, and students may be interviewed to provide the information.

 

Write your blog post:

Reflect on your findings and observations.

  • Are the diversity and cultural norms of the community reflected in the school?
  • Explain the impact of the community on the school. If there is no impact, explain why not. 
  • Explain the link between the school's focus on academic learning to the personal/cultural/community assets.
  • Discuss your students' personal, cultural, and community assets, and how you might capitalize on this knowledge.

 

Field Experience Blog Part 3

Before you write your blog post:

  • Select two schools to visit and observe. One school in an economically depressed area and another school that serves students from the upper middle class.
  • Record differences in the following areas:
    • Physical environment
    • Aesthetics
    • School climate
    • Resources for students
    • Attitudes of faculty and students

Write your blog post:

  • Reflect on what you have observed.
  • Compare the two schools and analyze the reasons for the differences you observed.

Attach a copy of your signed Field Experience Log (20 hours).