News

  • Latest edition of Brock Education Journal now available

    The latest edition of the Brock Education Journal, Critical Perspectives on Mental Health in Education: Striving for Social Justice, is now available.

    Current scholarship that analyzes ‘mental health’ as a dynamic, socio-political and cultural construct often leaves out intersectional social factors and determinants of health and well-being. This special issue will bring attention to this need for work in critical mental health within the context of the field of education. Despite increased awareness in the fields of critical mental health studies (Cohen, 2017) and Mad Studies (LeFrançois et al., 2013; Beresford & Russo, 2021), much of the literature pertaining to mental health and well-being in schools adheres to biologically essentialist and reductionist understandings of mental health and well-being. This has the effect of limiting and narrowing understandings of mental health. This depoliticization of mental health can cause conversations regarding mental health in education to not be considered through an intersectional analytic that also considers the ongoing effects of settler colonialism, white supremacy, cis-heteropatriarchy, ableism, sanism, neoliberalism, and capitalism on educators, students, and school communities.

    In this call for papers, we seek contributions that are invested in conversations regarding critical approaches to understanding mental health in schooling and education, with “education” and “schooling” including early years education, K-12 schooling, and higher education. We seek contributions that take into consideration social determinants of health and well-being, critique reductionist understandings of mental health and well-being, and that place inclusive and affirming pedagogies at the forefront. We welcome contributions that centralize lived experiences and challenge dominant positivist approaches to researching mental health.

    Guiding questions include: How can schooling and education centralize the mental health and well-being of children, youth, students, educators, and others in their collective communities through culturally-affirming, intersectional, and critical pedagogies and practices? How might schooling and education perpetuate epistemic harms and injustices relating to the silencing and disenfranchisement of students and educators who experience mental distress, or identify with madness or as Mad? In what ways can schooling and education work with transformative praxis and consciousness-raising practices (Freire, 1970) that can seek the overall health and wellness of all students and educators?

    Access the Brock Education Journal here.

    Categories: Events, News, Uncategorised

  • Redesigned MEd Program launched

    The Faculty of Education is pleased to announce that a redesigned Master of Education program will begin in September 2021 with new flexible programming options. The admission requirements remain the same as well as the number of courses needed to satisfy the degree requirements.

    For students in the course- and research-based pathways, the Faculty of Education is offering a master’s program that leads to a general MEd degree to replace the current MEd with Fields of Specialization. This change allows maximum flexibility for students. While the number of courses needed to graduate remains the same, students are required to take only two courses: a research course (EDUC 5P92) and an exit course (culminating paper, major research paper or thesis). Students can choose the specific courses they wish to take throughout the rest of their program. This program change gives students the freedom to design their program to meet their needs and interests.

    The MEd program also has six optional subject concentrations for students who would like more structure to their program or to study a subject in depth. The program continues to offer a wide range of courses that meet the diverse interests of our students, but in the redesigned program they are arranged in subject-specific clusters:

    • Administration, Leadership and Policy
    • Adult and Postsecondary Education
    • Curriculum Studies
    • Educational Psychology: Teaching, Learning and Wellness
    • Pedagogy
    • Social Justice, Power and Politics in Education

    What does this change mean to students in the ISP?

    • Students in the ISP will not experience any changes to the programming. They will have a choice to enroll in one of two fields of specialization for their full-time studies and they will have access to the additional enrichment opportunities. They will enroll in eight courses specific to their field of specialization and the required research and exit courses. While this pathway is primarily course-based, some students qualify to complete their degree with a research project (MRP option).
    • The ISP program is being discontinued and is no longer accepting applications. The last ISP cohort will run January-December, 2022.

    What does this change mean for students enrolling in the course- or research-based pathway starting in the 2022-2023 academic year?

    • With only two required courses – an introductory research course (EDUC 5P92) and an exit course at the end of their program (EDUC 5Q97 for course-based students, EDUC 5K95 for research-based students completing a thesis, and EDUC 5D91 for research-based students completing a major research project) — students can choose the offered courses that interest them
    • Students in the course-based and research-based MRP pathway could take one concentration, two concentrations or no concentrations – it is completely up to the student. Students in the research-based thesis pathway can only take one optional concentration due to the nature of their program (5 half-credits, and the thesis).

    What does this change mean for course- and research-based pathway students who started their program in an FOS?

    • Current students who will be continuing in the program during the fall 2021 and beyond can participate in the redesigned program or choose to stay in their original field of specialization.

    Updated September 10, 2021. 

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  • Online courses give teacher candidates unique teaching practice

    The transition to online classes has given Brock University’s teacher candidates an unexpected professional development opportunity by adapting their teaching demonstrations for online delivery.

    “This has been a really steep learning curve for me as well as for teacher candidates,” said Shelley Griffin, Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education. She says she’s never taught online before the COVID-19 pandemic.

    First-year teacher candidates in Griffin’s Music Education class suddenly found themselves planning online lessons designed to teach music principles to elementary school-aged children. The course allows students to learn pedagogical strategies as well as the elements of music.Read more

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  • Dean’s Update to Teacher Candidates

    First, I trust that all are doing well and are taking care socially, emotionally and physically. For Brock University this is an unusual circumstance. Second, there are many questions about grades, spring 2020 convocation, how individuals will complete their practicum, how we enable teacher candidates to meet their minimum Ontario College of Teachers requirements for practicum experiences, access to Additional Qualifications
    (AQ) courses for graduating teacher candidates, and how the requirement for successful completion of the Math Proficiency Test (MPT) will have an impact on licensure requirements. Let me address these and related issues, briefly.Read more

    Categories: News

  • Faculty of Education shares online teaching resources

    With K-12 students across Ontario engaged in online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, experts in Brock University’s Faculty of Education have been gathering online teaching resources and recommendations for teachers and teacher candidates alike.

    The sudden move to online platforms has many educators at all levels looking for appropriate tools and resources without the time it should usually take to develop online learning experiences.Read more

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  • Education Associate Professor nominated for local arts award

    Kari-Lynn Winters, Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education, is being recognized for her commitment to engaging the St. Catharines community through arts education activities.

    Winters was nominated for the Arts in Education Award by a group of Brock University students and her colleague Shelley Griffin, Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education.

    “I just feel honoured to be nominated,” said Winters. “It’s touching when your students think so highly of you that they’re willing to take the time to write the letters.”

    For Winters, her work at Brock and in the community brings together her passion for education and her love of the arts.

    “I think the arts are what make us human,” she said. “It’s our way to connect with each other.”

    Winters teaches drama, language arts and dance in Brock’s Teacher Education programs and supervises graduate students in the Faculty of Education. As a graduate supervisor and researcher, she works with students and other faculty members to conduct research studies throughout St. Catharines.

    In her classes at Brock, Winters helps teacher candidates learn the elements of an artform, such as dance or drama, and strategies for using these elements to teach other subjects. Teacher candidates might use movement and storytelling to design a math lesson, for example.

    “I just try to create an artful space where students can explore with one another and actually learn together,” said Winters. “By the time they leave, they feel like they’re part of a bigger community. I think they’re just open to exploring new ways to teach.”

    These new ways of teaching will help teacher candidates incorporate different ways of learning into their future classrooms. As well as new teaching strategies, Winters’ classes offer teacher candidates a safe space to take risks and make mistakes, helping them to be more fearless educators.

    Outside of Brock, Winters works with local arts groups, children, parents, librarians and teachers as an artist and children’s book author.

    In collaboration with the Carousel Players, Winters created the early years curriculum for the award-winning professional theatre in Niagara. As a workshop facilitator and educator, she inspires members of the community, including marginalized teens and adults, to create plays. Each year, Winters visits schools across Niagara and around the world to share her enthusiasm for creative writing and literacy education with thousands of K-12 students.

    The St. Catharines Arts Awards ceremony, set to take place May 1 at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, celebrates excellence in all areas of artistic creation in Niagara’s most populous city.

    Two Brock graduates, Katherine Gottli (BA ’10, MEd ’13) and Colleen McTigue (ADEC ’15), have also been nominated for the Emerging Artist Award category, which celebrates the achievements and potential of an emerging artist in St. Catharines working to establish a career and become a recognized professional artist in their field.

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  • From the Dean’s Desk: Hamilton Campus update

    As you are aware, the Board of Trustees has decided to sell the current Hamilton Campus. There are many reasons for this decision, including the desire to expand our undergraduate and graduate programming in the Hamilton-Burlington-Oakville (HBO) corridor.

    The University is exploring a variety of options for our continued presence in the HBO corridor.

    The senior administration has committed to remain at the current Hamilton Campus until the spring of 2021. The Faculty of Education (FOE) will continue to offer its professional Teacher Education programs at the current Hamilton Campus in the 2020-21 academic year and in the HBO corridor for many years to come.

    As part of our commitment to engaging students, faculty and staff in the process, I invite you to share any questions or concerns with us through the contact form available on the Hamilton Campus page of the FOE website.

    As I receive information about the next steps in the planning process, I will post this information on the FOE website and social media accounts. Updates will also be sent to your Brock email address.

    We remain committed to providing you Ontario’s very best professional education and preparation to be a successful teacher in Ontario and contribute to Ontario’s exceptional school-based learning environments.

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  • New edition of Brock Education Journal available

    The latest edition of “Brock Education: A Journal of Educational Research and Practice” brings together several timely essays that engage pressing educational topics, making it a must read for researchers, practitioners and students across the disciplines in which the varied works are grounded.Read more

    Categories: News

  • Ontario College of Teachers feedback invitation

    The Ontario College of Teachers is reviewing the accreditation of the following pre-service teacher education program offered at Oshki-Pimache-O-Win: The Wenjack Education Institute in partnership with Brock University:

    • Concurrent program of professional education that combines studies in Aboriginal Education with an area of study in the Primary/Junior divisions, leading to a Bachelor of Education degree (Aboriginal)

    Students in the program, members of faculty, associate teachers, alumni or an interested community members are welcome to share their thoughts on, concerns about or praise for the program.

    To help ensure that Ontario’s teacher education programs continue to reflect the standards of the profession, please offer your insights. Feedback can be shared until Feb. 14, 2020 through two channels:

    View the poster here.

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  • Upcoming information sessions

    Bachelor of Early Childhood Education

    Interested in applying your ECE Diploma toward a BECE (Honours) degree? Learn more about the BECE program from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 9 at the Hamilton Campus. Learn details about the program and gain insight into the application process and timelines. The event will include a formal presentation followed by Q&A session. Please note: this program is only available at the St. Catharines campus. Information sessions are held in Hamilton for your convenience.

    Ready to Apply? Staff will be on hand provide on-the-spot admissions to the BECE program.  Full time applications are $100. Part time applications are $55. To apply, you must have picture ID and a current transcript to date. We accept Visa, MasterCard or cash payments only. Your formal offer will be extended on the next business day.

    Register now for the information session.

    Technological Teacher Education

    Interested in becoming a Technological Education teacher? Learn more about the Technological Teacher Education program by attending an information presentation and Q&A session from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Sunday, Feb. 9 at the Hamilton Campus. During this event, you’ll be able to speak with instructors and staff and gain insight into the application process and timelines. You’ll also learn details about the program, the courses, the practicums and timelines.

    Register now for the information session.

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