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 
  • Managed and tracked through InPlace
  • One AFE opportunity must be related to the Teacher Candidate's specialty (e.g., International Education, Urban Education, STEM, etc.) 

   

While we encourage your AFE experience to be distinct and innovative compared to your previous roles in teaching, learning, and curriculum development, we understand that some of you may wish to return to an organization where you've worked before. This is possible, but we hope you'll seek out new responsibilities and opportunities within that familiar environment. Please discuss such opportunities with the Program Coordinator, Jeren Balayeva-Sawyer (jbalayev@uwo.ca).  

Teacher Candidates are responsible for securing their own AFEs. TCs are encouraged to pursue unfamiliar educational roles for their AFE placements, as the AFE process promotes exploring education beyond the role of a traditional classroom teacher. TCs are also encouraged to investigate AFE opportunities in grades they are not being trained to teach (i.e., an I/S student does an AFE placement in a P/J setting), as these opportunities allow for a more unique and in-depth understanding of the teaching role. 

- In-person or remote (*remote opportunities are 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 has to be related to the Teacher Candidate's specialty (e.g., International Education, Urban Education, STEM, etc.) 

For Year 2 TCs, the timelines are the following:

- Completed full-time in the summer and the two designated AFE blocks: December 2-20, 2024 and March 31-April 25, 2025. (Part-time opportunities, completed at your own pace between November 11, 2023 and April 25, 2025, might be accommodated upon request). 

For 2024 Cohort TCs, the timelines are the following:   

- There is a designated block from June 23, 2025 – August 15, 2025 for Teacher Candidates to complete their AFE. There is no course work or classes during this time, so Teacher Candidates can work full time to complete their required AFE hours.                                                                   
- If Teacher Candidates intend to complete their AFE at one of the designated school boards, they may do so part time from January 6, 2025 – June 20, 2025. No AFE hours can be completed while on practicum. 

*Total AFE Completion Deadline: August 15, 2025. We encourage you to complete all your AFE hours by August 15, 2025. If you need more time, please contact the Program Coordinator, Dr. Jeren Balayeva-Sawyer (jbalayev@uwo.ca), to find a solution. 

You are encouraged to set up your AFE opportunities at schools, but you must ensure that you are working outside of the traditional classroom teaching role.  This will encourage a deeper understanding of education by exploring different strengths and interests. For example, in a traditional school, you could work with school resource personnel, specialist teachers, librarians, etc.  

For the 2024 Cohort, if you want to participate in an AFE at one of the designated school boards, you may do so part-time from January 6, 2025 – June 20, 2025, but the AFE cannot happen during the practicum block. The candidate can accumulate AFE hours from January to the start of practicum, then again after practicum until the end of June. 

Candidates who select an AFE within a school during this time block must be placed in a setting that does not replicate practicum. A school-based AFE cannot be the same as a practicum and cannot involve direct classroom teaching. 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. 

You can view the full list of pre-approved school and school board agreements on InPlace. If you have any questions related to completing your AFE at a school/school board, please contact the Program Coordinator (Dr. Jeren Balayeva-Sawyer, jbalayev@uwo.ca). 

We have current placement agreements with over 170 AFE sites where our Teacher Candidates have or are completing their AFE opportunities on a volunteer basis. You can view the full list of pre-approved organizations on InPlace. Please note that this list 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 there are pre-existing AFE placement agreements between Western and these hosting organizations. 

If you do not see current AFE opportunities with these organizations on InPlace, you can reach out to the them directly to inquire about and arrange your own AFE opportunity before contacting our office. 

If you choose to complete your volunteer AFE at an organization/school not on the approved list, a legal affiliate agreement will need to be signed before you can proceed.  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. 

Please contact the Program Coordinator (Dr. Jeren Balayeva-Sawyer, jbalayev@uwo.ca) with any questions about previously approved organizations. 

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 approved by the Teacher Education Office during designated AFE blocks.

Teacher Candidates 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. Teacher Candidates are encouraged to explore AFE placement opportunities beyond what is posted on InPlace and are responsible for contacting both the organization/supervisor and the Program Coordinator in the Teacher Education Office about their role. 

Teacher Candidates must ensure that they have completed 210 hours of AFE before graduation. Specifically, they must make certain that they have completed a 90-hour placement and a 120-hour placement, as well as all other AFE guidelines.  

It is expected that Teacher Candidates reach out to their potential supervisor to request collaboration, and 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. In addition, a Self-Evaluation Report is required upon completion of the AFE. Finally, 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.  

General AFE Process:

1. Find an AFE opportunity or find one on InPlace and apply 
2. If your AFE opportunity is new (not already on InPlace), communicate with the Program Coordinator (Dr. Jeren Balayeva-Sawyer, jbalayev@uwo.ca) so she can get the opportunity posted on InPlace
3. Once the opportunity is created for you, apply on InPlace so that your experience can be tracked and managed
4. 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.) 
5. After you complete your AFE, you will be required to submit a Self-Evaluation Report, which can be found on InPlace
6. Your report will be emailed to your supervisor, who will be prompted to complete a Supervisor Report
7. Ensure that you supervisor has completed the Supervisor Report
8. When both reports are reviewed by the Program Coordinator, your AFE will be successfully completed and marked as such on InPlace – please note that your reports will be reviewed in the order received  

**If Your AFE is New:

1. Confirm with your potential supervisor that the agency will support AFE placements
2. Email the Program Coordinator with the following details:
   • Legal name of organization/school (and school board)
   • Name and email of possible AFE supervisor
   • Placement start date and potential end date (pending approval)
   • Placement duration (pending approval; i.e., 90 or 120 hours)
   • Proposed title of the position (e.g., Private School Classroom Assistant, Literacy Program Leader, Library Teacher Helper, Program Room Support, etc.)
   • Brief description of AFE opportunity
   • If the placement is general or specialty (if it is a specialty placement, please specify which specialty and why)
   • If the placement is paid or unpaid (on a volunteer basis)
3. The Program Coordinator will email your potential supervisor to confirm interest/details
   • A placement agreement is required for volunteer placements that are not on the preapproved list 
   • The agreement must be signed before proceeding
4. The Program Coordinator will add the agency and supervisor to InPlace
5. Help create a posting for yourself on InPlace by following the guidance of the Program Coordinator
6. Apply for the posting - an AFE opportunity will be generated for you to track your experience

*For Year 2 TCs, all AFE hours must be accumulated and reported to the Teacher Education Office by the last day of the BEd program to be processed in time for graduation.

• 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 organization is not preapproved and 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 Proposals, 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