Frequently Asked Questions: For Teachers
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What is the benefit to me as a teacher?
What is the pay?
Do I get graduate credit?
What is the time commitment?
What jobs would I be doing? What will a typical day be like?
Do I need to have business or industry experience to participate?
What expectations are there for me following the externship?
What is the benefit to me as a teacher?
As a Real World Extern, you will have the opportunity to experience, utilize and implement the latest real world applications of your discipline, earn two (2) graduate credits, and earn a respectable wage during the summer break, without traveling to a distant place or live in a dorm!
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What is the pay?
Each Real World Extern will receive a daily stipend of $150, or $4500 for a 6-week externship.
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Do I get graduate credit?
Yes. Two (2) hours of graduate credit can be earned for a discount rate of $50/credit through UNI's Continuing Education program. Participants must bear the cost of the credits, which can be deducted from the stipend. Details of graduate credit will be described during the orientation sessions.
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What is the time commitment?
The externship will run six (6) weeks starting in mid-June through July. Orientation and follow-up sessions will be included. A standard 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., 40-hour work week for up to six weeks over the summer is expected. However, a more flexible work schedule may be negotiable with your business host. Breaks and vacations are to be negotiated at the start with the employer.
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What jobs would I be doing? What will a typical day be like?
The work experience will ideally be a long-term project for the business host that utilizes the skills of your discipline in a genuine work setting. For examples of Summer 2009 externships, click here.
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Do I need to have business or industry experience to participate?
You do not need to have previous business or industry experience to participate in the teacher externship program. At the start of your externship, you will receive on-the-job training that will quickly prepare you for the assignments you will be given during your experience and the types of tasks you will be asked to perform.
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What expectations are there for me following the externship?
At the end of the externship four items are requested:
- Completion of a reflection log documenting hours, activities and thoughts over the course of your externship.
- Identification of specific content skills seen over the course of the externship and how students will see the real world application of that skill in the classroom.
- Identification of specific 21st Century Skills seen over the course of the externship and how students will see the real world application of that skill in the classroom.
- Creation and presentation of a poster summarizing your experience.
In the spring, we will observe your classroom teaching and have you and your students complete a pre-externship survey. In the fall, we will schedule a follow-up meeting to perform a post-externship classroom observation and to conduct a post-survey. We expect that a connection and partnership will be maintained with your externship host.
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