Student experiences of learning and teaching d
Lakeland Scriver holding one of the chicks they raised to occupy time as a result of layoffs in Calgary and their relocation back to Saskatchewan . " Many cartons of eggs are sold to my new connections in the Faculty of Education , instructors and peers alike !" says Scriver .
A student ' s experience of remote learning
Though students have experienced many challenges over the past year of remote learning due to pandemic restrictions , there have been some benefits , some unexpected moments of grace . Such was the case for Lakeland Scriver ( BSc ’ 18 ), a Bachelor of Education After Degree ( BEAD ) student , who has found remote learning both challenging and rewarding .
“ Being in a pandemic , isolated , and under the stress of a busy university semester makes for a tougher experience in bringing your best self to the virtual classroom ,” says Scriver .
The fall 2020 term was Scriver ’ s first semester in the Faculty of Education , and the challenges seemed daunting : “ I was unfamiliar with the professors , staff , and nearly all of my classmates , and this was especially intimidating due to all first impressions being made on a computer screen ,” says Scriver .
Scriver found ways to overcome feelings of isolation and intimidation , including being honest about the challenges they faced : “ I found it helpful to use the chat function in Zoom and other programs to try and create the camaraderie I would normally build with my classmates . It was also beneficial for my classmates and I to be honest with our professors about our struggles with workloads and due dates . Everyone is in the same boat right now , and sometimes we just need to bridge that communication gap between the bow and the stern to figure out together how to keep the whole dang thing from sinking .”
Flexibility , transparency and honesty are aspects that Scriver hopes to model for their future students : “ We moved deadlines , asked for changes or accommodations , and acknowledged when things were hard . I appreciated that very few people were shying away from discussing mental health , physical health , and how we were experiencing fluctuations in our well-being , now , during the pandemic , more than ever . I want to be an educator who practices this transparency with their students , and I hope my students will be transparent in return . We aren ' t robots , we are people , and learning together means we need to demonstrate human compassion to our fluid , changing selves .”
Being the kind of teacher Scriver wishes they had as a student motivated their decision to do an after degree ( major biology ; minor general science ) program . After pursuing and then withdrawing from an out-of-province Master ’ s of Science program , Scriver had an epiphany : “ It turns out that the part of academia that is my greatest passion is the teaching and learning aspect ! I want to be the kind of teacher I wish I had as a student : exuberant , enthusiastic , and authentically myself ,” says Scriver .
Scriver experienced an unexpected benefit to remote learning as well : “ As a transgender student ,” Scriver says , “ I ' ve found that remote learning has been beneficial in presenting myself as I wish alongside my pronouns and chosen name . It feels less intimidating to challenge misgendering remotely than in-person . I have run into very few issues with respect to trans inclusion thus far . I ' m not sure if that is the culture of the Faculty of Education , or dumb luck , but I am grateful all the same !”
Remote learning has also given Scriver more opportunity for “ introspection and metacognition ,” that they feel has been reflected in their assignments . Further , Scriver says , “ I feel like I handed in assignments that had more vulnerability and honesty in them than I might have demonstrated in busier , in-person classes .”
Though remote learning from home can allow for more vulnerability and honesty , these aspects can quickly turn awkward . Scriver recounts one instance in which the class watched as the instructor , who had muted their self momentarily , not-sogently asked their partner in another room to turn down the volume on the TV , which was disrupting the class . Scriver says , “ so awkward , but so funny …”
Students ' experiences teaching in schools
This academic year 290 interns and 297 pre-interns taught in schools ! Practicums are an important part of our Education programs , but the prospect of doing one ' s practicum during a pandemic can cause anxiety and new challenges . In this section , two students are introduced and their practicum experiences are shared : pre-intern Hanna Gross and intern Keelin Louttit .
Hanna Gross did her pre-internship at École W . S . Hawrylak School
Hanna Gross has two major reasons she is becoming a teacher : She loves kids and has a passion for lifelong learning . A 4thyear student in the Elementary program , Gross hopes to instill her love of learning in her future students .
Gross loves the Faculty of Education program at the University of Regina because of " how much practical experience there is in the program and how close everyone is ," with the U of R being a mid-size university with fewer students in classrooms . The most memorable
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