FAQ: Spring 2020 Education Field Partners
This page provides a quick-access reference to information you need to know about BU Wheelock practicum during the COVID-19 pandemic . To summarize:
- We have tremendous flexibility from DESE because of the current circumstance
- Our students should stay in close contact with you and their Wheelock supervisor to identify remote opportunities and connect them to the CAP
- The bottom line is that your student needs to demonstrate evidence of readiness to teach under each element
How can I best support my BU Wheelock student?
The best support is to include your student in any remote planning, teaching and learning activities that may be happening at your site.
What should remote planning, teaching and learning look like?
We have tremendous flexibility and there will not be a “one size fits all” solution. The gauge is for all of our students to document their remote activities and connect them explicitly to the CAP essential elements.
Is there an end date for the semester?
It depends on how well your student is progressing in relation to the CAP elements. Basically, the goal is to ensure that all of our students reach the point in which a “ready to teach” determination can comfortably be made.
What if I am unable to provide enough opportunity for my student?
Because we recognize the level of access to remote opportunities may vary across sites and placements, supplemental opportunities are being developed on a case-by-case basis to support our students’ success.
What should I expect from my BU Wheelock teacher candidate?
We have advised all of our students to continue to stay in close contact with their practitioner as well as BU Wheelock supervisor and to collaboratively identify ways to document and demonstrate readiness to teach under the six CAP essential elements.
What is the role of the BU Wheelock supervisor?
The BU Wheelock supervisor will continue to provide oversight for the practicum and serve as the main liaison between you, your student, and BU Wheelock program faculty.
How will “takeover” hours be addressed?
DESE has given us enormous flexibility. All of our students need to continue to document activities and hours but the bottom line is: they need to demonstrate evidence of readiness to teach under the CAP six essential elements.
Is there a planning sheet or some kind of structured format I should be using with my student to help them document the practicum?
All of our students need to have a plan in place to demonstrate their readiness to teach. We are advising them to use the “Individualized Action Sheet” as a helpful tool to kick-start and document that process. For more information, please follow-up with your student as well as the BU Wheelock supervisor. (Note: the Action Sheet template is included in this COVID webpage.)
Should the action sheet be completed as a self-assessment by my BU Wheelock student or in a three-way meeting?
It is intended as a self-assessment with oversight from the BU Wheelock supervisor and to the extent possible you, the supervising practitioner. Additionally, the sheet needs to be approved by the supervisor and if possible the practitioner.
What if my student cannot complete all of the CAP requirements such as the Student Feedback Surveys, how will that work?
DESE is being very accommodating in response to the current situation. The main guideline is for our students to stay in close contact with their Wheelock supervisor and to the extent possible supervising practitioner to identify ways to document and demonstrate their readiness to teach.
How will I sign off on the CAP paperwork if I cannot do it in person?
We have flexibility. For example, an electronic signature can be one option, but if that is not possible, you can type your name into the CAP cover sheet and the Summative form and then the Wheelock supervisor will put their initial to validate the typed signature.
Who should I contact if I have questions not addressed in this FAQ?
Contact the BU Wheelock supervisor as the main liaison between you and the college.