April 21, 2023
Photo: Paul H. Joseph / UBC Brand & Marketing
Please join the Faculty of Education in extending congratulations to recipients of Teaching and Learning Enhancement Fund (TLEF) awards for the 2023–24 funding cycle: Dr. Leyton Schnellert, Dr. Michelle Stack and Kshamta Hunter.
Dr. Leyton Schnellert
Project : Rural and Remote Teacher Education Program: An innovative hybrid approach
Project Type: Large TLEF
Funding 2023–24: $99,547
Project Summary: The team will develop effective hybrid courses and multimedia course resources for the inaugural Rural and Remote Teacher Education Program, piloting inclusive and accessible design within interactive, multi-modal courses.
Equity, diversity, inclusion, and decolonization are foremost as we co-create courses and resources leveraging rural teacher candidates’ and IBPOC graduate students’ funds of knowledge. Faculty, staff, learning designer, instructor, and student collaboration will result in culturally responsive courses and resources embodying diverse perspectives and lived experiences.
Anticipated impact:
- enable delivery of the first hybrid BEd program approved by BC Teacher Regulation Branch;
- redesign courses and resources that can be utilized across all UBC BEd programs;
- increase number of certified teachers to address critical rural shortage;
- allow equitable access for students to remain in and contribute to rural communities;
- expand future pathways for UBC students; and
- influence other BEd programs by modeling quality hybrid teacher education created with and for rural teacher candidates.
Dr. Michelle Stack
Project: Partnering with the Downtown Eastside to Shift Journalism Education
Project Type: Small TLEF
Funding 2023–24: $49,545
Project Summary: This project builds on the successful Research 101: A Manifesto for Ethical Research in Downtown Eastside (DTES) guide, which has been widely shared across UBC and beyond. The guide addressed harmful research practices and ways to shift to approaches based on respect, relationships and reciprocity. The proposed Journalism 101: A Manifesto on Journalism in the DTES will complement this contribution and emerge from participatory research. The proposed project will provide the resources necessary to complete the foundational steps for a larger project that will build deep experiential learning opportunities for students, particularly in the School of Journalism, Writing and Media (JWAM). From initial conversations, it is expected that the guide will include audio, visual and textual components. These resources will be openly available. The project will be developed, implemented, and assessed with co-applicants and collaborators, including the UBC Learning Exchange (UBCLE), Megaphone and JWAM.
Kshamta Hunter
Project: Embedding Climate Education in Teacher Education Courses through a Novel Framework of Climate Kind Pedagogy
Project Type: Small TLEF
Funding 2023–24: $19,950
Project Summary: The climate crisis, the pandemic, and related social inequities indicate the need for science education that teaches compassion and care towards the planet and other beings. Climate Kind Pedagogy (CKP) framework cultivates climate and justice informed approaches and promotes the practice of kindness within educational settings. The project documents successful strategies and pedagogies to develop a novel Climate Kind Pedagogy framework for the Teacher Education Program and reimagines three required science methods Bachelor of Education courses for elementary and secondary science specialists by infusing them with the CKP framework. The project develops education resources, including guidelines, curricula, and pedagogies that aims at increasing student engagement and awareness and enable educators to teach about climate emergency with goals of hope and sociopolitical action. We will deliver faculty and TA workshops on integrating CKP and climate change education. The team will also develop training modules as well as a resource library.
To learn more about the full list of funded proposals, visit the Teaching and Learning Enhancement Fund (TLEF) website.