Placements

The Alternate Field Experience (AFE) is an experiential learning opportunity that allows Teacher Candidates (TCs) to gain real-life practical experience in diverse educational settings (i.e., non-profit organizations, tutoring agencies, private schools, post-secondary institutions, summer camps, and beyond).  The AFE opportunity is distinctly different from the practicum placement, as it does not involve OCT classroom teaching.  It complements the practicum component of the Teacher Education program by encouraging TCs to investigate education in its various forms and by enhancing soft skills, which sets TCs up for success in their future teaching careers.  TCs have a unique opportunity to apply the concepts and theories they are studying in the BEd program to real-world challenges, thus enriching their knowledge of the broader community and the diverse impact of their BEd degree.  During their AFEs, TCs are encouraged to explore their teaching interests, establish connections in their respective communities, investigate alternate career paths, and develop transferable skills to better support students in their future classrooms.

All TCs are required to complete a total of 210 AFE hours.   

TCs will have completed the following two courses upon successfully finishing two AFE opportunities (one 90-hour opportunity and one 120-hour opportunity, for a total of 210 hours):

1. EDUC 5025Q Alternative Field Experience I: A field placement or research or leadership project, in support of specialty courses (.25 credit).
2. EDUC 5026S Alternative Field Experience II: A field placement or research or leadership project, in support of specialty courses, or, with approval, another aspect of teacher development (.25 credit).

• To qualify as an AFE, an experience should be:

  • A valuable learning experience with substantive responsibility
  • Related to teacher candidate’s professional goals
  • Related to the field of education
  • With a supervisor who will provide consistent guidance and supervision
  • Paid or volunteer (volunteer placements require a placement agreement to be established prior to the placement start date)
  • Either a 90-hour experience (on-site or virtual) or a 120-hour experience (on-site), for a total of 210 hours
  • Not replacing an OCT; uncertified teaching (such as emergency supply) cannot qualify for AFE
  • Domestic or international (international placements are offered by the Teacher Education Office when available)
  • Managed and tracked through InPlace (placement database)
  • One AFE opportunity should be related to the Teacher Candidate's specialty (e.g., International Education, Urban Education, STEM, etc.) 

   

The AFE process is different from the practicum process, since candidates can choose or self-select their AFE opportunity. For an AFE experience, candidates have the opportunity to self-select and self-direct what they do and where they do it. The purpose of the AFE is to experience education, teaching, and learning beyond the classroom.

Candidates are responsible for securing their own AFEs and are encouraged to pursue unfamiliar educational roles for their AFE placements, by exploring education beyond the role of a traditional classroom teacher, working with youth or adults in a different capacity. TCs could have a school-based AFE in a school they have NOT had a practicum placement in, and it would need to be in a division different from their program enrollment. (i.e., an I/S student does an AFE placement in a P/J setting).

Candidates can select an AFE from the many AFE opportunities posted on InPlace. These opportunities provide a range of unique and diverse experiences, offered by many of our community partners across the province. Candidates can also find their own AFE placement. Some AFE opportunities can be paid. If it is a volunteer experience, we must have an affiliation placement agreement with the agency prior to the start of the placement.

- In-person (*remote opportunities are available for accommodations and limited to 90 hours)

- Paid or volunteer (*a placement agreement is required for all volunteer opportunities)

- 210 hours total (90 hours for EDUC 5025Q and 120 hours for EDUC 5026S)

- Teacher Candidates can divide their 210 AFE hours across a maximum of two experiences - one of 90 hours and the other one of 120 hours

- One AFE opportunity should be related to the Teacher Candidate's specialty (e.g., International Education, Urban Education, STEM, etc.) 

- All AFE hours must be completed by the end of AFE block in Term 3 (mid-August). 

- You can find available AFEs posted on your InPlace account, or you can arrange for your own AFE at a different organization or school board.

- If you are interested in an unpaid AFE, a legal affiliate agreement will need to be signed before your placement is approved. This process takes time and may impact the start time of your AFE.

There is a designated block of time on the academic calendar (June to August) for Teacher Candidates to complete their AFE. Candidates are not on practicum or attending classes during this time, so there is an expectation that they are using that time to complete the required AFE hours.       

There may be opportunities for Teacher Candidates to begin AFE during Term 2 (January); however there are restrictions that the candidate must be aware of:

• Attendance at all teacher education courses is mandatory, including MTM and T2P. Candidates must not be absent from classes for travel or training to participate in an AFE.
• AFEs scheduled by the candidate during Term 2 and/or 3 must not conflict with any class or other program requirements.
• Candidates cannot attend an AFE during designated practicum blocks.
• Candidates who select a school-based AFE must do so at a school different from their assigned practicum location.

If a candidate chooses to set up an AFE at a school it must happen outside of the practicum block and the AFE schedule cannot interfere with the candidate’s course schedule (onsite or online). AFEs in school settings can support the candidate's deeper understanding of education by working in the school in a different capacity. We encourage candidates to find school-based AFEs such as: 

- special education rooms or resource centres with learning support teachers
- completely different divisions than they are enrolled in - e.g., a PJ candidate goes to a secondary school
- subject areas that we can’t offer as teaching subjects - e.g., Business, Computer, Tech/Shop, Art, Drama, Cosmetology
- coaching, school teams, school productions, volunteering for school food programs, etc.

*Please note that direct teaching (supply teaching or transitional teaching) DOES NOT qualify for an AFE. 

Candidates can arrange for a school-based AFE, based on the requirements above, in any one of our school boards that offer practicum. The placement agreement with the associated school board may need to be reviewed prior to approving any AFE placements. 

We have offered previous AFE placements with over 170 agencies for volunteer experiences. Any AFE with a volunteer organization is subject to an agreement review prior to placement approval. We are unable to publish a list of pre-approved organizations as those agreements are confidential documents. 

Organizations that are currently recruiting teacher candidates for AFE will post their opportunity on InPlace. Candidates can arrange an AFE in any of the agencies on InPlace but please note: the list of opportunities is subject to change and is not exhaustive. We strongly recommend that you consider completing your volunteer AFE opportunities at these organizations, as they have been carefully vetted by the Teacher Education Office and they understand the requirements of the AFE program.  

These organizations reach out to our office and we will post AFE opportunities on InPlace for candidates to consider. You can apply for the opportunity directly through InPlace.

If there is not a current AFE opportunity posted from a listed organization and you are interested in volunteering or working for the organization, you are encouraged to reach out directly to the organization to inquire about any opportunities for your AFE and create your own placement.

For any AFE placements that candidates create for themselves at an agency, they must submit a self-placement form via InPlace.

Note: If you are interested in completing a volunteer AFE at an organization/school not on InPlace, a legal affiliate agreement will need to be signed before you can receive approval.  Please note that this process takes time and may impact the start time of your AFE.

*You cannot start your AFE until the legal affiliate agreement has been signed and approved. 

All AFE opportunities will be approved through an InPlace process.

The Faculty of Education at Western is thrilled to offer international AFE opportunities to Teacher Candidates. International AFEs are uniquely transformative experiences as TCs become fully immersed in different cultures and languages. Participation in these cultures and languages is eye-opening and hones skills and knowledge that allow TCs to become better teachers. 

Through international AFE opportunities, TCs prepare to be stronger teachers in multilingual and multicultural classrooms. With the continually blossoming diversity in our classrooms, these skills are crucial to developing a safe and welcoming learning environment for all students. 

All TCs interested in completing their volunteer AFE opportunities internationally will only be able to do so through the programs organized and offered by the Teacher Education Office during designated AFE blocks.

Teacher Candidates (TCs) are responsible for securing their own AFE placements. The Teacher Education Office will post some opportunities on InPlace, but it is up to TCs to establish their position with a supervisor. TCs are encouraged to explore AFE opportunities beyond what is posted on InPlace.

Teacher Candidates must ensure that they have completed 210 hours of AFE by the end of Term 3 to graduate. Specifically, they must make certain that they have completed a 90-hour placement and a 120-hour placement, including verification reports for their AFE hours.  

Teacher Candidates must reach out to their potential supervisor to discuss appropriate learning opportunities. They must work directly with their supervisor to determine the expectations for their AFE. Hours are to be tracked by the TC in an Excel or Word format and reported to the Teacher Education Office upon completion of their AFE placement. This tracking sheet is included when the candidate submits a Self-Evaluation Report upon completion of the AFE. The report is generated by InPlace placed on your end date of the experience. The TC must ensure that the AFE supervisor has completed their Supervisor Report, in which the supervisor confirms AFE hours and comments on performance.  

Please reach out to the Teacher Education office if you have any questions or require any assistance.  

Steps:

1. If you want an AFE that is posted InPlace, you can apply directly through the posting and you will receive notification once it has been confirmed. Once you get the confirmation email, you can begin the AFE.
2. If you are creating your own AFE opportunity, you must complete a self-placement request through InPlace. If the agency you are planning to work with is already an approved site, the Teacher Education Office will be able to review and approve the placement. If it is not a previously approved site, the Teacher Education Office will inquire about the agreement and update you on the status. You must still create the self-placement and include all details about the agency, supervisor and supervisor email. The AFE coordinator will receive your submission, review it and initiate the affiliation agreement process with the legal team at Western. An affiliation agreement must be in place for all volunteer placements. Once the affiliation agreement has been completed by the agency and approved by Western legal department, your AFE will be confirmed and notifications will be sent to you and the supervisor. Please note: submitting an AFE self-selected placement is not a confirmation that you can begin the AFE. You must wait until you receive the confirmation email. The start date is dependent on the affiliation agreement.
3. You are responsible for tracking your hours in an Excel spreadsheet or a Word file, documenting hours worked, and tasks completed either on a daily or weekly basis (e.g., June 17-21, 2024 – created several FSL resources, helped students with the final project, etc.)  The time sheet gets submitted when you complete the self-evaluation report.
4. After you complete your AFE, you will be required to submit a Self-Evaluation Report, which can be found on InPlace. You must attach your hours tracking document to this report.
5. Once you submit your report, it will be emailed to your supervisor, who will be prompted to complete a Supervisor Report. Your supervisor will not have access to their report until you submit your Self-Evaluation Report.
6. Ensure that your supervisor has completed the Supervisor Report.
7. When both reports are reviewed by the Program Coordinator, your AFE will be successfully completed and marked as such on InPlace.  Reports will be reviewed in the order received.

• Working directly with the Teacher Candidate to determine the expectations for the AFE 
• Providing meaningful and mutually beneficial work opportunities for the Teacher Candidate and/or supporting the Teacher Candidate in developing their own project 
• Supervising Teacher Candidates in a productive and meaningful way 
• Communicating with the Teacher Education Office at Western upon request 
• Signing a placement agreement with Western University if the opportunity is unpaid 
• Reviewing the Teacher Candidate’s Self-Evaluation Report at the end of the experience (this will be sent to the supervisor by email once the Teacher Candidate completes it) 
• Completing the Supervisor Report, an online form that takes approximately 5-10 minutes to complete (supervisors will receive a link to the form after the Teacher Candidate submits their Self-Evaluation) 

• the Alternative Field Experience is NOT a practicum placement and can be completed inside or outside of a classroom setting 
• there is no “per diem” for hosts 
• teacher candidates must be supervised and may NOT take the place of an Ontario Certified Teacher – they cannot act as a Supply Teacher or as an Uncertified Teacher 

• Reviewing the AFE Opportunities, Self-placement forms, Self-Evaluation Reports, and Supervisor Reports 
• Contacting AFE supervisors to confirm placements  
• Coordinating the establishment of placement agreements between Western and the hosting organization for volunteer opportunities, as needed  
• Communicating any required information to Teacher Candidates and AFE hosts 
• Registering new AFE agencies and adding AFE supervisors to InPlace 
• Working with Teacher Candidates to create postings for their AFE opportunities on InPlace and generating placements   
• Supporting Teacher Candidates and AFE Supervisors, as needed 
• Processing the AFE course grades once total hours are submitted and complete