1. What is your biggest learning so far about teaching and learning in your first month of the B.Ed. program experience?
I feel that the first month of this program focused a lot on Core Learning Outcomes for this program. The emphasis put on First Peoples’ Principles of Learning (FFPL) and the nine professional standards was significant. The focus put onto standard 9 has really left an impression with me as well. With Gretchen we’ve been learning about the colonial roots to the education system. With Tina we’ve been learning about aboriginal ways of learning, some of the history of how we came about with standard 9, and some programs that have been implemented at schools to fulfill standard 9.
2. What is the UNexpected learning so far?
I’m really excited for the new BC curriculum and it’s holistic approach to teaching. I did not expect that. I think that the freedom it gives to elementary school teachers is awesome. I’m not entirely sure how I’m going to make it fit in with my teaching in secondary school, but I imagine it will be an interesting journey. I learned a lot about aboriginal culture that I didn’t know before. I’ve always had an issue with how high school focused on the old curriculum and less on what actually became useful to me in my adult life. I think that the curriculum incorporating social learning outcomes is super cool as well, and the fact that it has been revamped to focus on guiding learning rather than forcing information xyz into student’s brains.
3. What have you learned about yourself?
I’ve learned that cognitive dissonance is a rough gig. The first week was a real struggle with me, adjusting from my preconceived notions about the program and education to the reality. For a while there, I felt super old. I normally don’t struggle with learning new things, so it was tough for me to have such difficulty wrapping my head around the overarching concepts that were being drilled into our heads in the beginning. It was a bit of culture shock at times, as well. But in the end, it’s forced me to look at a lot of my biases and examine how I acquired them over the years. I feel more prepared already for my future as a teacher.