Education

Goals of Clinical Practice

The purpose of clinical practice is to provide a structured experience for learning and refining the skills necessary to become an effective teacher of students with diverse abilities and backgrounds.  The teacher education candidates are expected to exhibit the abilities to organize, plan, communicate, and evaluate learning experiences.  Teacher education candidates will participate in all activities typically expected of their cooperating teachers, gradually assuming increasing responsibility.

The clinical practice experience is performance-oriented, that is, the teacher education candidates are evaluated on the basis of demonstrated competency acquisition.  Clinical practice demands a reflective commitment to flexible problem-solving.  Successful teaching occurs when one initiates and implements a variety of instructional strategies that address the individual needs of students.  The faculty members in the Division of Education expect each teacher education candidate to:

• participate in a full semester of clinical practice, which will include several weeks of sustained full-day teaching;
• follow established school and classroom routines, procedures, and policies;
• develop effective teaching skills under the supervision of the cooperating teacher and the college supervisor;
• develop interpersonal skills responsive to the needs of students;
• develop solutions to classroom challenges;
• work collaboratively with other professionals;
• successfully apply the professional literature and make use of other resources for effective teaching and problems solving; identify and develop personal and professional strengths; identify and address personal and professional areas which require attention; and reflect upon and refine a philosophy of teaching. 

General Information:

• Clinical Practice Calendar 2012-2013
• Clinical Practice Contact Information

Clinical Practice Application Forms:

• Clinical Practice Application Form
• Appeal Statement Form
• Clinical Practice Placement Request Form and Agreement

Clinical Practice Information and Forms for the:

• Clinical Practice Candidate
• Cooperating Teacher of the Clinical Practice Candidate
• Clinical Practice Evaluation Forms and 360 Evaluation Process

Initial Teacher Licensure Applications:

• 2012-2013 Initial Teaching License Application

Background Check Requirements for Licensure:

By January 1, 2010, updated licensure application forms will be posted on the Ohio Department of Education website to comply with new House Bill 1 criminal background check requirements. Under the new requirements, applicants for Ohio licensure need to establish whether they have lived continuously in Ohio for the past five years.  These updated licensure application forms are the only applications that will be accepted after January 1, 2010. If any of the older applications are received after that date, they will be declined and applicants will be notified of the need to complete an updated application form.