Students are required to participate in Learning Communities in the Fall and Winter Terms of years 1 and 2. The aim of Learning Communities is to welcome and to engage students who are working within the College of Education, and to infuse the College of Education with the strength of new ideas and fresh perspectives. Because the teaching profession is guided by the “lived curriculum” of those it serves, Learning Communities create flexible and supportive spaces that involve students in the life of the college, help them to recognize their own needs as learners and as teacher candidates, activate their strengths, and build a sense of belonging among Education students within the broader university community.

Each Learning Community has a particular emphasis, and focuses on movement “outward” from self as learner to a developing identity as professional educator and public intellectual. There is also embedded in the conceptualization the notion of place, from local to global. Students are focused first on personal and education issues on campus, after which they move to issues within the city, within the province, and ultimately, internationally.

The Learning Communities are facilitated by third and fourth year Bachelor of Education student peer mentors. Weekly sessions include input from educational partners, faculty members, and alumni who share their expertise on educational issues, and who help to introduce teacher candidates to the profession of teaching.

Note: All teacher candidates must complete a Criminal Record Check (CRC) with Vulnerable Sector search before they can participate in any field experience. Field experiences may occur anywhere in Saskatchewan and due to limited Saskatoon placement opportunities, a local practicum may not be possible on request.

Pre-extended practicum field experience involves exploratory, practical experience in a partner school. Teacher candidates will be expected to carry out course assignments in their assigned school, engage in volunteer in-school activities wherever possible, observe, teach small and large groups and facilitate learning activities under the guidance of collaborating teachers, faculty members, and field experience coordinators. Teacher candidates are placed with teachers holding a Saskatchewan Teaching Certificate in a school using provincial curricula and organized under the Education Act. Teacher candidates will be assigned a partner school within commuting distance of Saskatoon, and must complete pre-extended practicum field study experiences by June 30 prior to the extended practicum commencing the fall of that same year.

The extended practicum involves one term of teaching experience, approximately 16 weeks in length.

The extended practicum may be required of teacher candidates in centers not within commuting distance of Saskatoon. During the extended practicum, teacher candidates are placed with teachers holding a Saskatchewan Teaching Certificate in a school using the provincial curriculum and organized under the Education Act. In order to support province-wide enthusiasm for teacher candidates in School Division contexts as well as schools in First Nations communities, the College of Education has developed partnership opportunities in diverse locations and looks forward to the learning these opportunities provide as well as the energy and innovation our teacher candidates will extend. A limited number of special requests are considered each year related to rural or urban placements that relate to exceptional circumstances (with financial responsibilities not considered as criteria for requests). Outside of these circumstances, placement preferences related to location are not guaranteed.

Before extended practicum registration, teacher candidates must have obtained an Education Weighted Average and an External Weighted Average of 60%. In addition, teacher candidates in the Secondary option must have a minimum average of 60% in each of Teaching Areas I and II.

To be eligible for the extended practicum, teacher candidates must have completed all external courses, all Education pre-extended practicum courses and the student teaching experience by June 30 prior to the extended practicum commencement.

Specific dates are posted in the online Course Offerings.

Standard First Aid and CPR-C are required by all students.