Our Field Experience Team is dedicated to your success. We match your professional goals with select mentor teachers in high-caliber schools. Let our strong relationships with the field help you achieve your best.
Each year, our Field Experience team arranges nearly 400 student practica in regional schools. Under the guidance of the Field Placement Chair, a team of over 40 Field Experience Faculty members liaise with sponsor teachers, school personnel and students to ensure students completing our programs:
- fulfill required Education Program Outcomes
- meet the current Professional Standards for BC Educators as set by the BC Teachers' Council
- learn & practice the BC Teachers' Federation (BCTF) Code of Ethics
Field Experience Guidelines
A successful practicum experience requires planning, communication, and cooperation from a variety of professionals. To make sure that everyone is on the same page, we have general guidelines for students and teachers as well as professional standards of behaviour. To learn what is expected in a practicum classroom, learn more on our field experience guidelines page.
Meet Our Team
We have a team of professionals dedicated to your success as a practicum teacher. These professionals are here to help you navigate this new world of education and feel prepared to enter the classroom. They work hard to make sure you get a good placement in a school where you can thrive. Don't hesitate to reach out with any administrative questions regarding your field experience.
Field Experience Schools
The depth and range of our partnerships with high-quality schools and their exceptional personnel is a cornerstone of our Education Programs. These partnerships allow us to offer a variety of enriching experiences to create environments for students to grow and flourish.
The Faculty of Education Field Experience Team has placed over 350 student teachers in dozens of local area schools and districts this year. These placements would not be possible without the support and cooperation of district superintendents and principals, classroom teachers and our field experience supervisors.
We value all of the mentor teachers that work with us to help prepare the teachers of the future. These teachers encourage excellence in our pre-service teachers by providing support, counsel, expertise and wisdom. Vancouver Island University's strong relationship with our mentor teachers is vital to our program's success.
Our pre-service teachers primarily complete their field experience in our partner school districts:
School District 72 Campbell River
School District 71 Comox Valley
School District 70 Port Alberni (Pacific Rim)
School District 69 Parksville/Qualicum
School District 68 Nanaimo/Ladysmith
School District 79 Cowichan Valley
School placements are arranged through the Field Placement office with pre-service teachers completing a survey to support placement in their formative and summative practicum placements.
International Experience
At this time, there are no international practicum placement or field school opportunities available. The only option is for Study Abroad for B.Ed. students in years 1 to 3.