FE Components

Field Experience Components

Field Experience components include a variety of opportunities for student teachers to integrate their learning from teacher education and to demonstrate their competence in various domains. Field Experience is designed with a clear focus on the overarching curriculum framework of the programme. Its objectives are closely linked to the Programme Intended Learning Outcomes.

The Field Experience domain of pre-service teacher education programmes consists of five components: FE Foundation Course, Block Practice (including FE Semester), FE and Professional Learning Portfolio, School Experience in Chinese Mainland, and National Security Education and Legal Issues for Teachers.

While in-service teacher education programmes put an emphasis on the Field Experience element which consists of Field Experience Supervision Visit and Field Experience Portfolio.

In response to the Guidelines on Teachers' Professional Conduct by the Education Bureau in December 2022, Field Experience has become one of the Exit Requirements for student teachers to showcase their achievements in FE and in professional conduct and ethics. The new Exit Requirements will be implemented in teacher education programmes in phases:

FE Components in Pre-service Teacher Education Programmes

FE Foundation Course

Field Experience (FE) Foundation Course is a year-long course for student teachers of full-time BEd/Double Degree programmes, aiming to facilitate student teachers' early development and adaptation to the changing role of a student to a teacher in Year 2.

Student teachers will be guided and supported by a Professional FE Tutor to develop an understanding of the professional standards required of teachers in Hong Kong, and reflect on their personal and professional values and beliefs to establish their teacher identity. Student teachers will also engage in Professional Authentic Context Learning (PACL) to start their professional dialogues with Mentors in the education sector and be exposed to authentic teaching contexts in their developmental journey towards a professional teacher.

Block Practice

A period of block practice (BP) provides student teachers with opportunities to teach and to be engaged in the life and work of the school. BP is delivered in two parts, i.e., Block Practice I and II / Field Experience Semester.

The duration of each BP for student teachers of full-time BEd/Double Degree (DD) programmes is 8 weeks. The Teaching Practice (TP) duration in each block for student teachers of full-time PGDE programmes is 4 and 8 weeks.

Block Practice Pre-requisite Requirements (full-time BEd/DD programmes): Student teachers must meet both criteria before undertaking Block Practice:

• Major Subject GPA: Minimum of 2.0
• Field Experience Foundation Course: Minimum grade of C+

Throughout the block practice, student teachers are supported by the University supervisors and supporting teachers from placement schools. This readiness will ultimately be assessed by the University supervisor. Supporting teachers are invited to give feedback at the interim and final stages of the block practice.

FE and Professional Learning Portfolio

Field Experience & Professional Learning Portfolio Course is a cross-years course offered in parallel with Block Practice I and Block Practice II / FE Semester for student teachers of full-time BEd/Double Degree programmes in the form of small group tutorials to guide and assess student teachers' critical and in-depth self-reflection on FE by the Professional FE Tutors.

Student teachers of full-time PGDE programmes are required to submit a FE Portfolio in each block of teaching practice.

School Experience in Chinese Mainland

The "School Experience in Chinese Mainland" course helps student teachers of the full-time BEd/Double Degree programmes to understand education development in the Chinese Mainland. The duration of school experience is 2 weeks to allow student teachers to integrate their learning into authentic educational settings in the Chinese Mainland and conduct reflection.

National Security Education and Legal Issues for Teachers

Student teachers will take the "National Security Education and Legal Issues for Teachers" or relevant course(s) to gain knowledge of legal issues in schools, and the requirements for teachers, including National and National Security Education. Topics include employment, school safety, personal data (privacy), protection on intellectual property, personal harassment, child protection, violence and bullying.

FE Components in In-service Teacher Education Programmes

Field Experience

FE Course provides student teachers with an opportunity to develop professional skills in teaching, appreciate the importance of theory-practice synergy in teaching, receive feedback on their professional development as teachers, and reflect on the roles of teachers and schools in education.

FE Supervision Visit

FE Supervision Visit is an integral part of the FE course, which normally takes place from November to May. Visits are arranged to observe and discuss practice in the reality of the student teachers' unique situation, determine the level of competence of the student teacher, and provide meaningful reflection where theory can be examined and practice improved.

FE Portfolio

FE Portfolio, as part of the FE course, aims to enable student teachers to manage and monitor their learning through keeping record of their learning process and outcomes, and setting learning goals as targets to be achieved. By creating an e-Portfolio, student teachers can demonstrate their development and achievement in FE and enhance their reflective practice and self-managed learning skills for lifelong learning.