Media releases

• Brock Education conference about infusing the arts across curriculum

  Friday, September 30, 2016 | By Brock University

  MEDIA RELEASE: R00212 – 30 September 2016

  It’s a way to keep art inspiring the imaginations of Canadian youths.

  Entering its seventh year, the Arts Matter: Integrating the Arts Across the Curriculum event at Brock University remains the only conference of its kind in Canada. This year’s conference will be held Wednesday, Oct. 5 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Brock’s Hamilton campus.

  “Arts Matter offers Brock University’s teacher candidates a unique experience in all four arts disciplines: dance, drama, music and visual arts,” says education professor Shelley Griffin. “Workshops led by respected arts educators assist teacher candidates to delve into the power of the arts through hands-on, experiential learning. Such a conference allows Brock’s future teachers to enhance their learning by developing increased knowledge and skill regarding the vital importance of infusing the arts in and across the school curriculum.”

  Launched in 2010 by Brock Faculty of Education professors Peter Vietgen, Kari-Lynn Winters and Griffin as a solution to the decline in funding for the arts and subsequent lack of participation in Ontario classrooms, the event has become a unique and vital component to the Brock teacher education experience.

  "The arts allow our students to look within and to explore and make comments on issues that often words just can’t express,” says Vietgen. “The Arts Matter conference gives our teacher candidates the tools to help develop these skills; the grammar of the language of the arts."

  The full-day conference is interactive and participatory with powerful, live performances. The teacher candidates leave with skills they can add to their portfolios and resumes, and a bulk of resources to include in future lesson plans.

  One of the most important features of the conference is the ability to learn from arts clinicians in the field.

  “The Arts Matter conference committee brings in artists and art educators from all four arts disciplines,” says Winters. “These clinicians are rarely Brock employees, meaning that the teacher candidates get to experience a completely new learning style and approach to teaching the arts in the primary, junior and intermediate grades. The aim of these four workshops is to offer a hands-on and creative learning environment where exploration and critical thinking are emphasized, building the confidence and knowledge-base of today’s teacher candidates.”

  What: Arts Matter: Integrating the Arts Across the Curriculum conference
  When: Wednesday, Oct. 5 — 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  Where: Brock University Hamilton Campus, 1842 King St. E., Hamilton

  For more information or for assistance arranging interviews:
  * Marc MacDonald, manager of communications & development, Faculty of Education, Brock University, 905-688-5550 x5385; mmacdonald@brocku.ca

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  Categories: Media releases

• Brock announces new Sexual Violence Response and Education Coordinator

  Friday, September 30, 2016 | By Brock University

  MEDIA RELEASE: R00210 – 28 September 2016

  Brock University’s new Sexual Violence Response and Education Coordinator, Allison Cadwallader, has been on the job for less than a month but her important work is already well underway.

  Cadwallader comes to Brock with experience in the area of sexual violence prevention and support to survivors of sexual violence through her various roles at the University of Windsor and the Sarnia Sexual Assault Survivors’ Centre. She started her new position at Brock on Sept. 6.

  Cadwallader will provide support to Brock community members who are affected by sexual violence and she will offer education and training on sexual violence prevention and response to members of the Brock University community.

  “Sexual violence is a pervasive issue—and it is not simply confined to the university campus,” Cadwallader says. “In this role, I hope to raise awareness through educational workshops that will provide a better understanding of sexual violence. It’s really about changing the conversation and highlighting sexual violence as everyone’s issue; which also means providing disclosure training and resources for students, staff and faculty.”
   
  She adds that in the aftermath of an assault, “it is common for victims and survivors to experience anxiety and depression. Add to that the additional stressors of university life such as being away from home and dealing with an intense class load, and you can understand why anyone, let alone survivors, may feel overwhelmed.”

  Cadwallader will join Alana Sharpe in the Human Rights & Equity office.

  “We’re excited to have Allison in this role as support for survivors and to assist in the implementation of the Sexual Violence and Harassment Policy,” Sharpe says. “The Policy will ensure that Brock addresses reports of sexual violence in a survivor-led way so as not to re-victimize survivors.”

  Anna Lathrop, Vice-Provost Teaching, Learning and Student Success and Chair of the Sexual Violence Prevention Committee says the creation of the Sexual Violence Response and Education Coordinator position is directly attributed to the advocacy of students, staff and faculty across the campus. 

  “The addition of this new position is one critical step toward the development of a more robust set of policies and resources designed to support survivors and create an environment where sexual violence is not tolerated,” she says.

  For more information or for assistance arranging interviews:

  * Dan Dakin, Media Relations Officer, Brock University ddakin@brocku.ca, 905-688-5550 x5353 or 905-347-1970

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  Categories: Media releases