Part of the teacher education program at COA is a requirement for early and ongoing service learning experience (200 hour minimum, 150 of which must be in a public school setting).

Level I: Contact/observation hours in an educational setting ( 50 hour minimum)
Examples include: observational time from COA course work in public, private and/or alternative settings (must include observations of diverse learners and students with exceptional needs); job-related experiences (camps, preschools, etc.); after-school and volunteer programs; school mentor programs.

Level II: Leading and/or assisting group and individual educational activities (100 hour minimum)
Examples include: working with the public schools (tutoring, classroom assistant, resource room, theater, sports); the George B. Dorr Museum…trade;s educational programs; YMCA programs (swimming, soccer, gymnastics); Public Library Children…trade;s hour, COA writing or math tutor; COA course TA; and relevant job-related activities (summer camps, outward bound, museums, etc.).

Level III: Curriculum creation and implementation: Development of curriculum and supporting materials along with implementation and direct leadership as a teacher (50 hour minimum)
Examples include: Lessons and units from methods courses; Internships/Independent Study Experiences; Natural History Museum…trade;s Summer Field Studies; job-related experiences, COA Vacation School.

The Early and Ongoing Service Learning Reflection Form can be found here (pdf 14k)