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 in education, 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, the placement should be:

• A valuable learning experience with substantive responsibility
• Related to teacher candidate’s professional goals
• Related to the field of education
• Supervised by a professional educator 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 submit their own AFE placement details for review by the Teacher Education Office using the Self-Placement form on InPlace. Some AFE opportunities can be paid. If it is an unpaid experience, there must be a placement agreement established between Western University and the AFE agency prior to the start of the placement. We are unable to publish a list of pre-approved organizations as those agreements are confidential documents.

October 7, 2025 – Self Placement Form opens

November 21, 2025 – Self Placement Forms due for placements starting January 5, 2026.

January 5, 2026 – Placements begin for those with an approved Self-Placement form.

January 5, 2026 – Applications open for placements starting June 22, 2026.

March 13, 2026 – Applications close for placements starting June 22, 2026.

March 13, 2026 – Self-Placement Forms due for placements starting June 22, 2026.

March 16 to April 24, 2026 – Placement review and approval by Teacher Education Office. 

June 22, 2026 – Placements begin for those with approved Self-Placement form or Opportunity.

August 14, 2026 – Last day to complete AFE hours.

August 21, 2026 – AFE Self Evaluations and Supervisor Reports are due.

All AFE hours must be completed and verified by the end of AFE block in Term 3 (August 14, 2026). Hours completed beyond this date put teacher candidates at risk of not graduating on time.  

There are limited opportunities for TCs to begin their AFE starting in Term 2 (January 5, 2026); 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 are encouraged to pause or significantly reduce their hours 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, the placement 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 school boards that permit AFE placements. Candidates can submit their AFE details using the Self-Placement form on InPlace for the Teacher Education Office to review. The placement agreement with the associated school board may need to be reviewed prior to approving any AFE placements. 

The Teacher Education Office has offered AFE placements with over 170 agencies.  

Organizations that are interested in recruiting teacher candidates for AFE can submit their opportunity on InPlace for the Teacher Education Office to review and publish. It is recommended that TCs complete their AFE placements at these organizations where possible, as the opportunities on InPlace have been carefully vetted by the Teacher Education Office, and the organizations understand the requirements of the AFE program.  

If TCs are interested in pursuing an opportunity that is not listed on InPlace, they are encouraged to reach out directly to the organization to inquire about setting up their own placement opportunity. If the organization agrees, the TC can submit a Self-Placement form on InPlace with the placement details for the Teacher Education Office to review. 

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. 

Any TCs interested in completing an international AFE will only be able to do so through the opportunities organized and offered by the Teacher Education Office during designated AFE blocks. TCs are not permitted to seek out their own international AFE opportunities. 

Teacher Candidates (TCs) are responsible for securing their own AFE placements. The Teacher Education Office posts 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. Secure your AFE placements by 1) applying to opportunities on InPlace and/or 2) submitting new placement details using the Self-Placement form on InPlace.
   1. Apply to an opportunity that is posted on InPlace. The agency will review your application and either offer you a position or not. If offered, accept the position through InPlace and the agency will mark it Successful. The Teacher Education Office will then generate the placement on InPlace, and you may begin the AFE on the assigned start date.
   2. Approach an agency not listed on InPlace to discuss placement details. Once confirmed with the agency, submit a Self-Placement form on InPlace. The Teacher Education Office will review and respond to the request, including checking on the status of placement agreements for unpaid placements. If there is an existing agreement, the Self-Placement form will be marked Approved, and you may begin on the assigned start date. If there is not an existing agreement or the existing agreement needs to be updated, the Teacher Education Office will coorrdinate directly with the Agency Contact. Once the placement agreement has been signed and submitted by the agency and approved by Western's Legal Office, your AFE will be marked Approved, and you may begin on the assigned start date. Please note: submitting a Self-Placement form is not a confirmation that you can begin the AFE. You must wait until you receive the confirmation of approval email. The start date is dependent on the status of the placement agreement for unpaid placements.
2. Track 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 will be submitted in your Self Evaluation Report at the end of the placement. 
3. After you complete your AFE, you will be required to submit a Self-Evaluation Report, including your time sheet, on InPlace. 
4. Once you submit your Self Evaluation Report, a copy will be emailed to your AFE Supervisor for review. Your AFE Supervisor will then be prompted to complete a Supervisor Report. Your supervisor will not have access to their report until you submit your Self-Evaluation Report.
5. Ensure that your supervisor has completed the Supervisor Report.
6. Once both reports are reviewed and deemed satisfactory by the Teacher Education Office, the AFE will be marked Completed on InPlace. Reports will be reviewed in the order received. Two Completed AFE placements are required to pass.

Agencies hosting an AFE placement must:

• ensure that the placement activites are educational in nature
• offer supervision by a professional educator
• guarantee 90 or 120 hours during the Term 3 AFE block (June - August)
• offer on-site opportunities (virtual AFEs limited to 90 hours)
• sign a placement agreement with the university (if offering an unpaid placement)
• register with InPlace, our placement database, as needed

AFE Supervisors are responsible for: 

• Registering an account with InPlace, our placement database, as needed
• Submitting opportunities in alignment with the campaign's application period OR reviewing the Self Placement details submitted by the TC
• Managing opportunity applications and responding to TCs according to the pre-determined application deadline
• Working directly with the Teacher Candidate to determine the expectations for the AFE 
• Providing meaningful and mutually beneficial work opportunities for the TC and/or supporting the TC in developing their own project 
• Supervising TCs in a productive and meaningful way 
• Communicating with the Teacher Education Office at Western upon request 
• Reviewing the TC’s Self-Evaluation Report and time sheet 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 TC 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 AFE Opportunities, Self Placement Forms, Self-Evaluation Reports, and Supervisor Reports 
• Coordinating the establishment of placement agreements between Western and AFE Agencies for unpaid opportunities
• Notifying AFE Supervisors and TCs of Approved placements  
• Communicating any required information to TCs and AFE Supervisors 
• Registering new AFE Agencies and adding AFE Supervisors to InPlace 
• Working with AFE Supervisors to create AFE opportunities on InPlace and generating placements  
• Supporting TCs and AFE Supervisors, as needed 
• Processing the AFE course grades once total hours are submitted and verified