Student Teaching and Field Placement

Student teaching is the most significant phase of the student’s certification program. It represents the bridge between professional preparation and professional practice. By definition, student teaching is a period of guided teaching when the teacher candidate takes increasing responsibility for leading the school experiences of a group of learners over a period of consecutive weeks. The major goal of student teaching is to provide an opportunity for the student teacher to make practical applications of knowledge, learning principles, and techniques of teaching. The beginning teacher needs the opportunity to experience the pressures of full-time teaching and the rewards that accrue. At Duquesne, student teachers demonstrate the culmination of the development of their knowledge, skills, and dispositions in each of the five domains in a PK-12 classroom setting.

The cooperating teacher, the university supervisor and the student teacher should view themselves as a team. A key word in this human endeavor is communication. Most problems occur when there is a breakdown in communication among team members. We encourage all team members, therefore, to keep the lines of communication open and to work together to achieve a successful experience.

Best wishes to each of you involved in the student teaching program!