University of Regina Open Journals
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The Role of Self-Reflection in an Indigenous Education Course for Teacher Candidates
No full textThis paper explores the role of self-reflection in a teacher education program. In a mandatory Aboriginal Education course in northwestern Ontario, teacher candidates participated in a variety of self-reflection activities that included two reflection papers, non-traditional sharing circles, and lectures, and classroom discussions that challenged common myths, stereotypes, and prejudices about Indigenous peoples. In a survey with open-ended questions administered at the end of the course, 36 teacher candidates shared their perspectives about self-reflection at the end of the course. Findings from the survey were correlated with seven teacher candidates’ reflection papers and with my personal reflections as a participant-as-observer in two of the mandatory courses. The themes that emerged from analysis were placed into three categories; these categories described the role of self-reflection as a process of (1) self-evaluation, (2) establishing personal connections with course theory, and, (3) developing a culturally inclusive pedagogy. The findings suggest that self-reflection in an Indigenous Education course can provide teacher candidates with an effective approach to uncover, identify, and examine internal biases that impact their understanding of teaching Indigenous students and integrating Indigenous content into the curriculum.Keywords: Indigenous Education; self-reflection; teacher educatio
Innovating in the Margins of Teacher Education: Developing a Bridging Program for Internationally Educated Teachers
No full textIn this article, we discuss our recent and current efforts to offer an innovative form of ongoing teacher education designed explicitly for Internationally Educated Teachers (IETs), which might be considered a type of in-service teacher education. We share some of the observations of IETs who have completed the Faculty of Education’s Bridging Program at the University of Alberta as well as our own experiences. Aspects of the program’s curriculum are described such as its framework including the organization of a bridging seminar and field experiences/practicum. To provide context, we review relevant policies and the limited but valuable research from other Canadian bridging programs for IETs. We conclude with a discussion of the most significant changes we have made to practices at the University of Alberta and address the issue of sustainability. Keywords: Internationally Educated Teachers (IETs); immigrant teachers; foreign-trained teachers; recertification; bridging programs for international teachers; teacher education; professional education; in-service teacher education for international teachers
Attrition, Retention, and Development of Early Career Teachers: Pan-Canadian Narratives
No full textOur pan-Canadian research study examined the differential impact of teacher induction and mentorship programs on the early-career teachers’ retention. This article details the stories from our interview participants (N=36) in relation to what their lived experiences were during their first years of teaching and how they dealt with the requirements, expectations, and challenges. Their narratives were analyzed through the lenses of early career teacher attrition, retention, and development. Our findings showed that despite geographic, contextual and policy differences, there were striking similarities in teachers’ lived experiences and in the impact of these experiences on their decisions to stay or leave and predispositions towards personal and professional development as teachers
Situating Intergenerational Trauma in the Educational Journey
No full textThe impact of trauma on learning in post-secondary institutions is largely ignored. However, recent studies on how Aboriginal people experience mental health issues are bringing attention to Aboriginal students’ experiences of intergenerational trauma (IGT). IGT occurs when the maladaptive effects of an original trauma experience, such as historic trauma inclusive of Indian Residential Schools (IRS), results in unhealthy effects on the first generation being passed down to the next generation or multiple generations. Given the lengthy history of collective historic trauma experienced by Aboriginal people, it is reasonable to expect that Aboriginal students’ learning is affected by IGT. As post-secondary educators, we engaged a limited study to further our knowledge of the impact of IGT on Aboriginal students. We were puzzled by Aboriginal students’ attrition within university programs—students we believed who were more than capable of success. We chose to explore this issue from the perspective of trauma-informed education principles (Mordoch & Gaywish, 2011). Building on past work, this qualitative study explores how IGT affects the educational journeys of Aboriginal students. A conceptual framework based on an Anishinabe teaching of Four Lodges (directional)—Talking, Planning, Teaching, and Healing—guided our research. The researchers formulated questions for each Lodge to frame our research on how IGT is understood by students enrolled in select programs for mature Indigenous students. We asked about the effects of IGT in the classroom and the resultant problems students face in their educational journey. Sixteen Indigenous students, 10 instructors, and nine administrators employed in Aboriginal focus or access programs for at least three years participated in semi-structured interview conversations. Findings reflect their perceptions of the interplay between IGT and educational experiences and potential strategies to redress resultant issues. Keywords: intergenerational trauma; post-secondary education; trauma-informed educatio
Out of the Shadows: A Review of Shadow Education and the Curriculum and Culture of Schooling in South Korea by Young Chun Kim
No full textA Review of Shadow Education and the Curriculum and Culture of Schooling in South Korea by Young Chun Kim. London: PalgraveMacMillan, 2016
The Flipped Classroom: High School Student Engagement Through 21st Century Learning
No full textThe purpose of this qualitative study is to document the experiences of students who participated in a flipped classroom during a Grade 11 Modern World History and a Grade 11 Biology course. An abridged literature review revealed the flipped classroom provides enriched opportunities for collaborative learning and for greater teacher-student interaction; however, during the homework phase, some students are not equipped to be independent learners. For this action research project, we collected data from 48 students who completed three sets of qualitative questionnaires and participated in two focus groups. Augmented data included excerpts from reflective journals maintained by the flipped classroom teachers. From the data, three dominant themes surfaced. First, the flipped classroom promoted active learning. Second, it supported stronger relationships among students and their teachers. Third, it activated a steep learning curve. Details of 21st century learning are used to conceptualize the findings. One implication of the study is that, at the start of the flipped experience, teachers need to communicate fluidly to students what the flipped classroom is and is not. Keywords: flipped classroom; action research; 21st century learnin
Collaboration: Finding our Way Within, Around, and Through
No full textThis essay explores professional collaboration, which requires trust and curiosity among members of the learning community
