Kids and Technology

Teaching experience clarified

The College of Teachers has updated teaching experience requirements for entry to Part III specialist and honour specialist programs, bringing them more in line with today's classroom realities.

To register for Part III of specialist or honour specialist courses, members must meet requirements established in legislation that include having one year of experience teaching the subject in Ontario schools. However, opportunities to gain recognized teaching experience in areas like English as a second language, special education and guidance have diminished as classrooms have shifted to more integrated learning. A teacher may therefore find it difficult to provide evidence of teaching experience for a specific number of hours in such subject areas.

The College recently approved guidelines for supervisory officers who must certify that a member has appropriate teaching experience to register in additional qualification or honour specialist courses.

The guidelines state that the teaching experience must have been earned after taking Part II and before enrolling in Part III. It must consist of a minimum of 10 months if the subject or area is not specifically timetabled, or 110 hours of regular classroom time if the subject is specifically timetabled.

These guidelines apply to guidance, computers in the classroom, multiculturalism, media, English or French as a second language, reading, dance, drama, music and visual arts.