Introduction to Field Experiences
Students enrolled in the UW-Whitewater’s ECE4U online transfer program are involved in fieldwork or directed teaching throughout their training. Students in this program have completed practicum experiences with preschool children, and infants and toddlers prior to admittance to UW-Whitewater. The additional field studies components of this program will include working with young children with special needs and working with 6-8yrs olds in the public school system. Students in this cohort will also participate in two directed teaching experiences. The first experience will be done during the second summer in the program. This will be with a Birth to Three/Early Intervention program (serving infants and toddlers in their natural environments). The second and final experience is the during the final spring semester. This directed teaching includes Consultation in Early Childhood classrooms and student teaching in classrooms serving 5 -8yr old students.
A reflective seminar is held during the same semester as field work and directed teaching which provide students with  the opportunities to discuss their work in the field and to develop portfolios for student assessment. The students in the Early Childhood Education Program develop three electronic portfolios. The faculty assists the students during their classes and during three seminars in developing high quality portfolios, which reflect a strong knowledge base and understanding of pertinent professional knowledge, skills, and dispositions.
