A once in a lifetime opportunity to experience 21st century teacher education

This chapter is based on a year-long embedded placement that provides third-year Bachelor of Education primary students with the opportunity to be placed in a primary school one to two days every week for the entire school year. They work in partnership with their mentor teachers, and because this partnership is with Catholic schools, they also have a faith companion that mentors them in the teaching of religious education. The main goal of this program is to provide an innovative and improved model for teacher education that provides a more meaningful and authentic placement experience. From an evaluation perspective, we have conducted surveys from PSTs for the past two years and have conducted Zoom interviews with a number of PSTs as well. This data has helped revise and improve aspects of the program to ensure its success and sustainability with the PSTs, participating schools and the university.