Veterans Transition Certificate in International Development and Human Security
This certificate program is designed to support military-connected individuals transitioning from military service as they explore new academic and career opportunities.
Alumni Message to Graduating Students
Write a message to a Faculty of Education graduate
Faculty of Education’s Class of 2024 will be walking the stage on November 27, 2024. Write a message to welcome them to the alumni community! Please note that submissions may be revised for spelling and clarity.
Questions? Please contact education.alumni@ubc.ca
Registration Open for New MOOC: Nurturing Childhoods Through Indigenous Ways of Knowing
October 2, 2024
Registration open for new Massive Open Online Course: Nurturing Childhoods Through Indigenous Ways of Knowing
Launching on November 1, the Nurturing Childhoods Through Indigenous Ways of Knowing Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) is a six-to-eight-week course designed for educators, service providers, and families. It offers a transformative learning experience focused on integrating Indigenous perspectives into early learning environments. Led by Dr. Jan Hare, Dean, Faculty of Education, and developed in collaboration with community leaders, educators, and scholars, this free, fully online course has no prerequisites, making it accessible to all.
Building on the success of the Reconciliation Through Indigenous Education MOOC, which has engaged over 70,000 learners worldwide and is also led by Dean Hare, the Nurturing Childhoods Through Indigenous Ways of Knowing MOOC guides participants through learning circles on topics such as Indigenous knowledges, family, community, and land as the first teacher.
To learn more and register, visit the MOOC web page.
Staff Professional Development Session – Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Workplace: Part 2 | November 26 or 28, 2024
Workshop
Following the initial professional development session on AI in the workplace offered to Faculty of Education staff in April 2024, we invite you to continue exploring the rapidly evolving AI landscape. This session will help you navigate the complexities of AI in your professional context with critical insight. With updated guidelines from UBC and enhanced activities across various tools and purposes, you’ll engage with generative AI through new lenses and perspectives, gaining the confidence to make informed decisions about AI.
Note: Attendance at or knowledge from Part 1 (held in April 2024) is not required for Part 2. All staff are welcome to register for this event.
Facilitators
The Learning Design and Digital Innovation (LDDI) unit supports the design, development and deployment of innovative teaching practices in the Faculty of Education. Since the public release of ChatGPT in November 2022, LDDI has been actively involved in understanding the evolving landscape of Generative Artificial Intelligence. The LDDI team has been collaborating and engaging in conversations with faculty and community members, organizing and facilitating workshops, and creating resources that are shared on the Faculty’s AI Corner.
Registration
Registration is now closed.
Date
Tuesday, November 26, 2024
Time
12:00 to 2:00 pm
Lunch will be served at 12:00 pm and the session will begin at 12:30 pm.
Location
Ponderosa Ballroom
6445 University Boulevard
Vancouver, British Columbia
V6T 1Z2
Date
Thursday, November 28, 2024
Time
10:00 to 11:30 am
Platform
A Zoom link will be provided to registrants.
2024-25 Dean’s Distinguished Lecture: Beyond the Algorithm: Generative AI in Education | Virtual Livestream Link
The event has concluded.
Dr. Kyleen Myrah Receives RISE Woman of the Year Award
October 17, 2024
Created to honour and celebrate the achievements of inspirational leaders within Kelowna and the surrounding area, the RISE Awards acknowledge individuals who demonstrate inclusivity and represent Kelowna Women In Business’ (KWIB) mission and values.
The Woman of the Year is a leader, champion for women in the workforce and role model within her industry. She displays excellence in her field and is actively involved in the local business community. This year’s award recipient is Dr.Kyleen Myrah.
Dr. Myrah, EdD’04, is a Professor of Business at Okanagan College teaching in the areas of management and social entrepreneurship for over 24 years. She is also President of KyCo Management, a corporate training company specializing in leadership development, strategic planning, and social enterprise. An active member of her community, Kyleen has held volunteer positions with numerous organizations, and in 2017 she co-led the City of Kelowna’s Journey Home Task Force and was the founding Board Chair of the Society tasked with implementing the community’s plan to end homelessness. Currently, she is the Interior BC Chair of the Loran Scholars Foundation and Faculty Advisor for the award-winning student.
Learn more about Dr. Myrah here.
Developing Critical Generative AI Literacies in Education | November 12, 2024
Developing Critical Generative AI Literacies in Education
A talk with Yvonne Dawydiak, BEd’91, MET’11 and Sonya Woloshen, BA’06, BEd’08
Join UBC alum Yvonne Dawydiak and Sonya Woloshen for an interactive online workshop focused on co-constructing Critical Generative AI Literacy and is intended to help attendees uncover key considerations for use while taking a play-based and socio-constructivist approach. The session offers opportunities for in-depth discussion and hands-on exploration to help attendees develop their understandings of the possibilities and challenges of Generative AI (GenAI) in education including how it might be used in K12 teaching and learning contexts.
Everyone in attendance will be entered for a chance to win a Faculty of Education swag pack.
Audience
All are welcome. Educators in the K-12 context may find this program particularly beneficial.
Date & Time
Tuesday, November 12, 2024
4:30 PM – 5:30 PM PST
Location
Zoom meeting – link will be sent after registration
This interactive event will not be recorded. A post-session handout will be sent to all registrants.
Speakers
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Yvonne Dawydiak, BEd’91, MET’11 Yvonne Dawydiak is a long-time teacher who is passionate about taking learning outside the confines of the classroom – both ‘in place’ and ‘virtually’. As a Teacher Educator and UBC Masters of Educational Technology graduate, Yvonne was, until recently, the Program Manager of Learning Design in Teacher Education at UBC helping to support faculty and teacher candidates with effectively integrating 21st Century approaches including digital technology integration for face-to-face, online and remote learning contexts. Yvonne currently lives, plays (and sometimes works) on the unceded territories of the Hul’qumi’num- and SENĆOŦEN-speaking peoples overlooking the beautiful waters of Shiya’hwt on what is known by some as Salt Spring Island. |
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Sonya Woloshen, BA’06, BEd’08
Sonya Woloshen has 15+ years of experience in education, including K-12, French Immersion, and roles with the Ministry of Education. She holds a BA in French and Art History, a BEd, and advanced degrees in Educational Technology and Learning Design from SFU. Her research focuses on Learning Analytics and Artificial Intelligence and she is dedicated to creating anti-oppressive learning environments. Sonya is the Learning Design Program Manager in the Teacher Education Program at UBC, helping learners and faculty integrate digital literacies and competencies into their pedagogical practices. |
Registration
Community Update | October 2024
October 2024 | published once each term
Message from Dr. Jan Hare, Dean
Aanii – Greetings,
As the new Dean of the Faculty of Education, following my service as Dean pro tem since 2021, I am committed to building on our strong foundation while ushering in innovative changes that support our mission of shaping future educators and advancing educational research.
As we enter the final year of our current strategic plan, Learning Transformed, we are beginning to develop our next strategic plan. Leveraging our strong community connections, we aim to craft a collective vision that not only celebrates our past successes, but also incorporates fresh perspectives to meet future challenges and drive educational excellence.
Reflecting on our achievements, we are proud to announce a significant milestone: NITEP, our Indigenous Teacher Education Program, celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, welcoming its largest-ever cohort of first-year students and boasting nearly 500 graduates. By offering much of its curriculum through regional field centres, NITEP continues to shape Indigenous education across British Columbia and beyond. Explore stories, photos, and archives of NITEP’s impressive legacy and future vision on our website.
As part of our commitment to remaining at the forefront of education innovation, we invite you to join us virtually on October 29, 2024, for this year’s Dean’s Distinguished Lecture: Beyond the Algorithm: Generative AI in Education, which will feature keynote speaker Dr. Lilach Mollick, Co-Director of the Generative AI Lab at Wharton. This lecture will explore the opportunities and challenges of integrating AI into teaching, learning, and research.
I would also like to highlight our Indigenous Education Alumni Network (IEAN). Established last year, the IEAN connects UBC Faculty of Education Indigenous alumni and the wider educational community. The IEAN invites all members of our communities to attend the upcoming virtual speaker series event on Indigenous Climate Justice on October 8, 2024, featuring Dr. Kyle Whyte, Professor of Environment and Sustainability at the University of Michigan, who will share his insights on climate change, Indigenous knowledge systems, and environmental justice.
We are excited to announce key appointments that reinforce our commitment to advancing Black flourishing through strengthening interdisciplinary Black studies in education. In August 2025, Dr. Nadena Doharty will join us as a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Black Experiences in Education, and Dr. Glory Ovie and Dr. Marika Kunnas joined our Faculty in September as tenure-stream faculty members.
We are also pleased to announce Dr. Julia Sinclair-Palm as the inaugural Director of the forthcoming Robert Quartermain Centre for Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) Inclusive Education, beginning January 2025. We eagerly anticipate their leadership in promoting inclusivity through education and community engagement.
Watch this year’s welcome message to learn more about our Faculty and community. As always, I welcome your feedback and encourage you to share this Community Update with friends and colleagues who may be interested.
Here’s to shared successes and new horizons.
Miigwech – thank you,
Jan
Teaching and Learning
New MOOC on Nurturing Childhoods Through Indigenous Ways of Knowing
Registration is now open for the UBC Faculty of Education’s new Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), “Nurturing Childhoods Through Indigenous Ways of Knowing,” launching on November 1, 2024. This six-to-eight-week course, designed for educators, service providers, and families, offers a transformative learning experience to integrate Indigenous perspectives into early learning environments. Led by Dean Hare and created in collaboration with community leaders, educators, and scholars, this free, fully-online course requires no prerequisites, making it accessible to all.
AI in K-12 Education: Classroom of the Future
The UBC Faculty of Education is excited to announce the launch of the new online institute, “AI in K-12 Education: Classroom of the Future,” starting January 2025. Led by award-winning educator Cari Wilson, this seven-session series aims to equip educators with the necessary tools and knowledge to effectively integrate AI into classrooms and navigate the opportunities and challenges presented by this technology.
Blended Learning in the Teacher Education Program
The UBC Faculty of Education is adapting its academic offerings to better serve our diverse student body, particularly those from historically underrepresented communities, by piloting a hybrid model in our teacher education programs in Vancouver and the West Kootenay Rural Teacher Education Program. 2024/25 BEd teacher candidates will take a selection of classes online, an approach that merges traditional and digital learning.
Reading, Language, and Mathematics (ReaLM) Literacy Kits
Dr. Jessica Chan, Founder of the Reading, Language, and Mathematics (ReaLM) Lab, has partnered with the Okanagan Regional Library to create literacy kits for children that promote development and family engagement. Families with children in grades two and three can participate in the lab’s ongoing study on how home activities influence language, reading, and math skills.
Awards and Accolades
Dr. Patricia Duff Inducted as a Fellow into the Royal Society of Canada
Dr. Patricia (Patsy) Duff, FRSC, has been inducted as a Fellow into the Royal Society of Canada’s Academy of Social Sciences, a prestigious honour that recognises her exceptional scholarly contributions. A Distinguished University Scholar and an internationally renowned leader in applied linguistics and multilingual education, Dr. Duff has transformed global research on multilingualism and transnational learners’ experiences.
School of Kinesiology Alumni and Students Shine at Paris 2024 Olympics
The UBC Faculty of Education’s School of Kinesiology proudly celebrated the remarkable achievements of our alumni and students at the recent Paris 2024 Olympics. Participants from various disciplines including track, field hockey, volleyball, soccer, and swimming exemplified the pinnacle of athletic excellence cultivated at UBC. We commend their outstanding performances and the pride they brought to the UBC Faculty of Education community as they competed among the world’s best.
School of Kinesiology ranks 1st in North America and 3rd globally
The UBC Faculty of Education’s School of Kinesiology has once again retained its top ranking, placing 1st in North America and 3rd globally for sports-related subjects, according to the 2024 QS World University Rankings. Recently celebrating its largest graduating class in history, the School continues to shape leaders who are making transformative contributions to health, wellness, and sports worldwide.
2024 UBC Faculty of Education Reconciliation and Decolonization Alumni Award
Chas Desjarlais (BEd’99, MEd’14), a nêhiyaw-michif educator, scholar and community leader, and Dr. Meike Wernicke (PhD’13), a multilingual non-Indigenous scholar, are the distinguished recipients of the 2024 UBC Faculty of Education Reconciliation and Decolonization Alumni Award. This honour recognises alumni who demonstrate exceptional leadership, integrity, respect, and commitment to advancing decolonization or reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.
Community Events and Engagements
Dean’s Community Engagement Series: Ethics and Opportunities: Generative AI in K-12 Education
Hosted by Dean Hare, this speaker series that explores current priorities in education will host its next event virtually on November 5, 2024. Dr. Chris Kennedy and Cari Wilson, leaders and educators from the West Vancouver School District, will discuss the ethical integration of Generative AI into K-12 education.
Research Forum on Educator Wellbeing
Help shape the future of health in education at the upcoming Research Forum on Educator Wellbeing: Sharing Diverse Perspectives and Multiple Approaches, taking place on October 24-25, 2024, in Kelowna, British Columbia. Leading scholars from across Canada will present research findings, promote best practices, and collaborate to build a robust community dedicated to enhancing and maintaining educator wellness.
Follow us on LinkedIn
We’ve launched a new LinkedIn account to highlight the impactful work of our community. Follow @UBC Faculty of Education for the latest on research, events, awards, career opportunities, and more.
Latest Faculty of Education News
Visit our news and events page for an in-depth exploration of the latest developments within our Faculty, including new leadership appointments, groundbreaking research initiatives, recent funding successes, and prestigious recognitions.
UBC Faculty of Education Reconciliation and Decolonization Alumni Award 2024 Recipients
September 27, 2024
Dean Jan Hare is pleased to announce the 2024 UBC Faculty of Education Reconciliation and Decolonization Alumni Award recipients: Chas Desjarlais and Dr. Meike Wernicke
The award acknowledges extraordinary alumni who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, integrity, respect, and commitment to furthering decolonization efforts or reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples or communities, or who have inspired others to continue decolonization or reconciliation efforts. Learn more about the award and nomination process here.
Learn more about Faculty of Education Alumni Awards.
Read more about the new initiative: The UBC Faculty of Education Indigenous Alumni Network.
