Graduate Defence - Guneeta Gupta

Graduate Defence – Guneeta Gupta

Guneeta Gupta, MA in Curriculum Studies

THINKING WHO WE ARE BECOMING: A COLLAGE OF POSSIBILITY FOR TEACHERS
Supervisor(s): Karen Meyer
Thursday March 14, 2019 | 10:00 am | Graduate Student Centre, 6371 Crescent Road, Room

Abstract:

As society becomes increasingly influenced by neoliberal ideology, and knowledge and education become slaves to the economy, the concept of the teacher is becoming less rooted in relationships and more in instrumentality. And as a teacher and scholar of education, I find this increasing instrumentalization of my profession dehumanizing, where I am left “feeling like a chess piece or a cog or even an accomplice of some kind” (Greene, 1995, p. 11). If we are not to be accomplices in the damaging structural change occurring in our world and profession, I contend that teachers must think ourselves differently—must think the world differently.

In this thesis I ask: How might teachers respond to such socio-political forces in ways that recover the relational and open up possibilities for themselves, their students, and the world? I then present one possibility in this paper as a collage or assemblage of ideas.

As a product of creative scholarship, the deliberate poetics of this work is both an exposition and an example of thinking the world differently by juxtaposing autobiographical, theoretical, and poetic writing in textual collage. The Prologue and Epilogue are pieces of life writing “promoting emancipatory projects of learning and teaching” (Hasebe-Ludt and Jordan, 2010, p. 2). Together with poetic interludes created from the text of the Prologue, life writing provides the frame of the thesis. I also include historical and contemporary narratives about the education and work of teachers. I conclude the thesis with an exploration of what might be possible for teachers, teaching, and teacher education when we acknowledge the contingency of the educational project.

UBC Education Library News

By alex smiciklas

WELCOME TO OUR NEW BRANCH OPERATIONS SUPERVISOR

Taj Sohi, our new Branch Operations Supervisor, joins us on February 19th. Taj will provide leadership in the Education Library’s Borrower and Access Services, Collection Maintenance, and Public Service areas. Going forward, we welcome you to direct any enquiries and requests regarding print reserves and LOCR to Taj at (604) 822-0996 or education.reserve@ubc.ca.

UPCOMING RESEARCH COMMONS WORKSHOPS

The UBC Research Commons has a number of upcoming workshops for graduate students covering a breadth of topics, including literature reviews, thesis formatting, abstract writing, lay summaries, and qualitative data analysis software NVivo.

A full list of upcoming workshops is available in the events newsletter. Please share this link with your graduate students: https://bit.ly/2EbCsDR

EXPANDED OPENING HOURS

As we continue our year of assessment at the Education Library and, after six months of tracking patron use patterns, we have been able to expand the library’s opening hours on weekends. In response to user needs for space and borrowing services, we are now open until 6:00pm, Friday through Sunday.

NEW RESOURCE: Curio

UBC Library is now subscribed to Curio, CBC and Radio-Canada’s streaming service for educational content for all ages and subject areas. With content in both English and French, shows includingCanada: A People’s History, 8th Fire, and Beyond 94: Truth and Reconciliation in Canada, and many teacher resource guides, Curio has become a popular resource for educators across Canada with many universities and school districts subscribing to the service.

In addition to Curio content, we have also subscribed to New in Review, CBC’s current events series.

AME Annual Conference

By alex smiciklas

Deadline: April 1, 2019

We are pleased to announce The 45^th Annual Conference of the Association for Moral Education will be held November 7-9, 2019, at the Motif Hotel in Seattle, Washington, USA. The theme is “Morality and Ethics for the Digital World.”

The conference welcomes sessions and preconference workshops on any related topic in morality, ethics and moral education, especially, but not exclusively, related to the conference theme.

Submissions are sought from scholars and practitioners in the fields such as moral psychology, philosophy, sociology, and education; computer and information science and ethics; science and technology studies; cultural and media studies and from policymakers, network and software engineers, cyber security professionals, teachers, PhD students and practitioners. All submissions will be peer reviewed.

We also encourage submissions based on national or international comparative studies from researchers outside of North America.

Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers’ Association Call for Proposals

By alex smiciklas

Deadline: April 30, 2019

The Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers’ Association (NLTA), invites research proposals on the current social emotional health of teachers and school administrators in Newfoundland and Labrador.

As an integral part of its Education Action Plan, the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, is introducing a Social Emotional Learning (SEL) initiative. In conjunction with this learning initiative, the NLTA desires a benchmark assessment of the status of teacher social emotional health, which the research proposals will help establish.

Proposals received in response to this invitation will be evaluated by the NLTA. The evaluation of
proposals will be based on:

a) cost

b) capability of the respondent, based on their relevant experience

c) adequacy and completeness of the proposal requested

Proposals must be received by April 30, 2019, and can be sent to Jeanine Warford by email (jwarford@nlta.nl.ca) .

Wingspan is Proud to Present: Artists With Disabilities Or Deafness In The Schools Of The VSB And Delta School Districts

By ben drake

In December 2018, Dr. Leslie G Roman, Professor in EDST, and her team at Wingspan received a third UBC Grant for Catalyzing Research Clusters. This award allows Wingspan to fund a pilot program establishing artists with disabilities in a residency program with partner K-12 public schoolsin the Vancouver School Board and Delta School District. The project includes creating documentary films about the artists, capturing their impact in public performance contexts and turning the films into public pedagogy at international festival.

Artists with disabilities or Deafness will work for 8 weeks with students and teachers in seven schools in two school districts (Vancouver and Delta) in classrooms ranging from kindergarten to grade 12. During their 8 week residency, the selected artists will participate in many different areas within the school. These include school-wide assemblies, co-teaching and performing and creating in their artistic craft, and providing the schools new lenses through which to see art made by artists with disabilities in their own unique voices and stories. The six artists represent different artistic media from visual arts to acting, from story-tellers to play rights and photographers. Some are highly internationally established, having appeared on ABC, CNN, and the White House or having performed on major TV broadcast. Still others are incredibly talented emerging artists in who defy expectations for example, being blind and doing accessible visual arts such as photography, painting and sculpting. Wingspan has the national stage in its purview with the full support of the Honorable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Public Services, Procurement and Accessibility. Carla Qualtrough has led the call for federal accessibility legislation which is now tabled! She has opened Wingspan at the Grand Opening and her video appears on the wingspan website. To follow the latest buzz and developments about how UBC’s VPRI Established Cluster—Wingspan Dis/Ability Arts, Culture & Public Culture significantly impacts our schools and communities, please see the Wingspan url: wingspan.educ.ubc.ca Our Faculty is a proud partner of Wingspan.

Learn more about the artists below:

: Cathy Browne Bio

: David Roche Bio

: James Sanders Bio

: Kelsie Grazier Bio

: Richard Harlow Bio

: Sarah Jickling Bio

Higher Education Graduate Certificate Program

By ben drake

The Graduate Certificate in Higher Education (GCHIED) is designed to meet the continuing professional development needs of those involved in the field of higher education. This certificate is intended for individuals in teaching, supporting, or monitoring roles in public and private institutions of higher education in British Columbia and beyond. Students will complete coursework on the following topics: an introduction to the field of higher education; the historical, philosophical, economic, and sociological foundations of higher education; organization and administration of higher education; and the Canadian systems of higher education.

Congratulations to Dr. Annette Henry on Receiving the 2019 Achievement Award in Education & Leadership

By alex smiciklas

Dr. Annette Henry was one of five educators who received the 2019 Achievement Award at the annual Black History Month Legacy Dinner organized and hosted by the National Council of Black Women Foundation (NCBWF) in Burnaby on February 24th. Dr. Henry’s award was presented to her “in recognition of outstanding commitment to education, leadership and community.” All honorees were presented with a plaque from the NCBWF, as well as a certificate of recognition for their “extraordinary contributions” sent on behalf of Premier John Horgan in which they were described as “trailblazers.” The dinner was attended by 130 people, including an unexpected visit from the honourable Jean Augustine, who among other esteemed accomplishments as a parliamentarian and activist, worked tirelessly to negotiate the motion that designated February as Black History month. UBC was well represented by students across departments, as well as the Faculty of Education and the Equity Office.

The 2019 Achievement Award in Education & Leadership is created to honour trailblazers in and around the Province of British Columbia for their leadership and transformational work in making significant and lasting contributions which positively impact the world around them. Their advocacy and activism have fostered social justice and organizational change within their institutions and/or the community to achieve the goals of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the fight for Racial Justice.

National Report on French Supply and Demand in Canada Launched

By ben drake

February 13, 2019

L to R: Dr. Meike Wernicke, Dr. Wendy Carr, Commissioner Raymond Théberge, Dr. Joanne Robertson, Susan Ankenman

On February 13, Dr. Wendy Carr (LLED) addressed French second language educators, government officials and media during the Commissioner of Official Languages’ (the Commissioner) launch of their national report on French teacher supply and demand in Canada.

One of the main responsibilities of the Commissioner is to promote linguistic duality in Canadian society. To help meet this responsibility, the Commissioner raises Canadians’ awareness of the benefits of linguistic duality and carries out research, studies and public awareness activities to help inform all Canadians of the status and importance of Canada’s official languages.

Key findings in the report include the need for ongoing professional development (in French language development as well as teaching methodologies) so that French teachers build confidence as well as competence. The LLED French teacher education team led by Dr. Meike Wernicke and Dr. Joanne Robertson with Susan Ankenman are already focussed on providing this professional support for practising teachers as well as teacher candidates through immersive weekend events called Séjour UBC http://lled.educ.ubc.ca/sejour/

You can read the report here: https://www.clo-ocol.gc.ca/en/publications/studies/2019/accessing-opportunity-fsl

Mental Health Literacy Core Trainer Institute

By ben drake

Educators from 23 school districts around British Columbia participated in a three-day institute to prepare them as mental health literacy trainers in their districts and schools. The Faculty of Education is leading this provincial initiative based on the pioneering work of Dr. Stan Kutcher (Dalhousie) to proactively address the growing concerns about youth mental health. This professional learning for BC educators parallels the integration of mental health literacy education for UBC teacher candidates and is guided by a provincial steering committee that comprises leaders from our Faculty, the BC Teachers’ Federation, School Superintendents, BC Counsellors, Principals & Vice Principals, Ministries of Education and Mental Health & Addictions, Foundry BC and BC Children’s Hospital.

This was the third of three institutes dedicated to preparing district-based mental health literacy trainers, bringing the total number of districts engaged to 58 out of the province’s 60. Research conducted in BC districts as well as at UBC show the impact of this professional development in increasing knowledge about mental health and mental illness, reducing stigma, and improving help-seeking.

A free online course, TeachMentalHealth, is available to teacher candidates or anyone else interested in developing their mental health literacy, and a MOOC, Bringing Mental Health to Schools, is available for practising educators. UBC’s Professional Development and Community Engagement are also offering two summer institutes in mental health literacy in July.

Polar Knowledge Canada – Call for Funding Applications 2020-2023

By maureen collins

Deadline:
April 30, 2019 23:59 (Pacific Time)

Polar Knowledge Canada (POLAR) is excited to announce the launch of its Call for Funding Applications: 2020 to 2023 in support of key themes under its Northern Science and Technology (NST) and Polar Knowledge Application (PKA) Programs.

The Northern Science and Technology (NST) Program aims to anchor a strong research presence in Canada’s Arctic. This program will create an environment in which both Indigenous and local knowledge and science contribute to addressing challenges in the Arctic.

The Polar Knowledge Application (PKA) Program aims to promote and further strengthen science and technology nationally and internationally and build science capacity through training, outreach, increased knowledge sharing and learning opportunities. The program aims to enhance and build awareness of the polar regions across Canada through fostering collaborations with other organizations to promote Canadian northern science and technology and advance the next generation of researchers and highly qualified personnel.

The maximum amount of funding considered per project is $150,000 per year for up to 3 years. The total request for funding for each project cannot exceed $450,000.

For more information and to apply, please visit POLAR’s website at Funding for Researchers .

For any questions, please contact grants-contributions@polar.gc.ca and include “Polar Knowledge Canada – Call for Funding Applications 2020-2023” in the email subject line.