UBC Teacher Education

1
UBC Teacher Education Breaking New Ground The
Enhanced Practicum
Anne Scholefield, Rod Brown John
Yamamoto Program Coordinators, UBC Vancouver
2
ENHANCED PRACTICUM

• Research informs us that such non-formal
  educational involvement helps teachers develop a
  broader, more holistic view of education than
  practica limited to classroom settings. The
  Enhanced Practicum is guided by research and
  based on beliefs that teacher candidates,
  community partners and students all benefit.

3
A History of Enhanced Practica at UBC

• EPBCO Extended Practicum Beyond the Classroom
  Option
• Running since 2004 (?) with both science and fine
  arts teacher candidates, at selected sites (HR
  MacMillan Space Centre, Vancouver Aquarium,
  Science World, Vancouver Art Gallery)
• International and Rural Practica
• Selected Volunteer Sites (Corrections, VSB
  Alternate Schools, WJ Mouat Outdoor Ed Program,
  etc.)
• Pilot Program 2011-12 (1 cohort each in
  Secondary/Elementary)

4

• 2011-12 Pilot Enhanced Practicum

• Roughly 100 students took part in various
  enhanced experiences last year

5

• Some Feedback from Participants

This portion of the practicum was incredibly
valuable. If I had not experienced this portion
of my practicum, I would have a very different
view of public education. It is my opinion that
every student should experience this version of
the practicum in the future. I had a very
positive experience during my enhanced practicum.
It provided me an opportunity to work with youth
outside of the school setting. My enhanced
practicum was a success because of my placement.
My mentors were helpful in getting me involved
with the youth as well as the administrative and
logistical aspects of the organization I worked
with. It was awesome! Allowed me the
opportunity to get some experience in the
environment I want to be in for my teaching
career (alt ed). Best part of my practicum, by
far. Sea to Sky Outdoor School was a fabulous
place to complete this practicum. I learned about
about experiential learning and how I could apply
it to my classroom in the future. At first I was
really annoyed that I had to do the 3 week
enhanced practicum, but now I wouldn't have had
it any other way! This was a wonderful
opportunity and enabled me to gain a perspective
of what learning and teaching in a rural
community would be like, it was one of the best
elements of my Bachelor of Education experience.
6

• Whats it all about?
• Take a look!

7

• Elementary Practica

• Practicum I
• Thursdays - September 27th to December 13th
• 2 Week Practicum October 29th to November 9th
• Practicum II
• Thursdays January 10th to March 28th
• Practicum III 10 Week Experience
• April 2nd June 7th
• Enhanced Practicum 3 Week Experience
• June 10 28th

8

• The Enhanced
• Practicum Website

http//enhanced.educ.ubc.ca/

• Practicum overview
• Community partners
• Contact information
• Testimonials

9

• Community Partners

Students will select their Enhanced Placement by
theme or by district/region

• Themes
• Arts
• Community and Social Services
• Culture and Immigration
• Faith Based Schools
• Food Nutrition and Health
• Independent Schools
• Indigenous Education
• International Education
• Museum Education
• Recreation, Outdoor Education and Sport
• Rural Education
• Public Schools
• Special Education
• Library
• Alternate Education
• Sustainability and the Environment

District/Region Vancouver Richmond North
Shore Burnaby/New Westminster Tri-Cities Surrey La
ngley Abbotsford
10

• Community Partners

Aboriginal Initiatives, Centre for
Teaching Allouette River Management Apple
Canada ArtsStarts in Schools Bamfield Marine
Science Centre Bard on the Beach BC Sports Hall
of Fame Beaty Biodiversity Museum Be the
Change Britannia Heritage Shipyard Burns Bog
Conservation Society Canucks Autism
Centre Canadian Outback Adventures Centre for
Teaching, Learning and Technology Delta Museum
and Archives Society Dr. Sun Yat Sen Chinese
Garden Environmental Youth Alliance Fort Langley
Historical Site Fraser River Discovery
Centre Georgie C. Reifel Bird Sanctuary
Gulf of Georgia Cannery Society HR MacMillan
Space Centre Immigrant Services Society KidsSafe
Project Langley Centennial Museum Langley
Historical Society Lets Talk Science Lynn Canyon
Ecology Centre Maple Fraser Park
Secondary Montessori Training Centre of BC New
Westminster Parks, Culture and Recreation North
Vancouver School District Outdoor School Pacific
Community Resources Science World Sea to Sky
Outdoor School Stanley Park Ecology Society Think
Eat Green at Schools United Way Vancouver
Aquarium
11

• Information Regarding Some of our Partners

• International Practica cost/locations
• Meeting with Gary Rupert, September 26, 12 PM
  (Room 207)
• Rural Practica locations, expense
• Accommodations may be provided e.g.
  Bamfield/Sea to Sky Outdoor School, YMCA Camp
  Elphinstone, etc.
• French Placement Possibilities inquire, SVP

12

• The UBC Orchard Garden/Think Eat Green
• Julia Ostertag

13

• The Process

• Look over the website, do some research, and
  submit your preferences for a placement either
  by theme or by location (by this FRIDAY!!!)
• Enhanced Practicum Coordinators work with
  available community partners and your selections
  and find you an appropriate placement
• You visit your placement on Tuesday November 20
• You start your practicum on Monday April 22,
  after the successful completion of your 10-week
  extended practicum (otherwise, your next
  opportunity to take EDUC 430 will be in April
  2014)

14

• Evaluation

• UBC TEACHER CANDIDATE EDUC 430
• ENHANCED PRACTICUM
• Briefly describe your organization and the
  teacher candidates role.
• Briefly describe the teacher candidates
  contributions during the 3week practicum.
• Please identify 3 strengths you feel the teacher
  candidate brought to your organization.
• Please add any recommendations you think might
  help the teacher candidate with professional
  goals.

15
Questions?