It may not always be glamourous work, but it’s certainly far from dull to be a writer // photographer // designer // researcher // programmer.
Photo by Hayley Morrison
Writing
Comics and the dreamy, anxious underworld of teacher education
The iconic image of a student staring out the classroom window daydreaming of anything but the lesson at hand might be a reality that teachers try to avoid. David Lewkowich, a professor of Secondary Education, doesn’t see these moments as a distraction but as an important part of what is happening in the classroom.
U of A expert helps develop national framework for K-12 computer science curriculum
At a time when reliance on digital technology and online interaction is a daily fact of life, fewer than half of Canada’s provinces and territories include computing science in their elementary and middle-school curricula. A University of Alberta secondary education expert is working with a national network of teachers, computing scientists and other educational stakeholders to change that.
Inclusion should extend to physical education, elementary ed prof says
Inclusion fostered in the classroom doesn’t have to end once physical education kicks off, at least if you take Hayley Morrison’s advice. The Elementary Education professor focuses her research and teaching practice on supporting inclusion in physical education. The goal is for students of all abilities to be able to partake in activities. In Morrison’s experience, a student’s physicality or neurodiversity shouldn’t be a barrier to their participation.
Horowitz remains a tireless teacher
He was a master’s student in Education Administration (now Educational Policy Studies) who became chair of Elementary Education, the fourth dean of education (1972-75) and the University of Alberta’s vice-president before becoming the only member of the Faculty of Education to hold the campus’s highest office (1979-89). It’s fair to say Dr. Myer Horowitz has a uniquely intimate relationship with this institution.
A tireless advocate for education and students throughout his tenure and into retirement, Horowitz reflects on the significance of the 75th anniversary of the Faculty of Education, the importance of leadership in education and the impact of his own mentors.
Dr. Herbert “Pete” Coutts
A fierce advocate for teacher education, Coutts was known as a leader in Canada and internationally. Under his tenure, both sections of the Education Centre were constructed and student numbers increased by over 500%. His legacy has been honoured with an Order of Canada, the naming of an award from the Canadian Society for the Study of Education and the Education library bears his name.
Flashing through history
Dry history lessons that don’t resonate with students may be a thing of the past if a University of Alberta professor can get a new, interactive learning tool into classrooms.
Embracing math raps, Minecraft and Star Wars in the classroom
Step into Jessica Maloughney’s (BEd’11) Grade 2 classroom at St. Patrick’s Community School in Red Deer, Alta., and you may be reminded of a six-year-old’s bedroom. Minecraft posters decorate the walls, Lego figurines are tucked around the classroom, and collections of Star Wars and Frozen books populate the bookshelf. These aren’t just classroom accessories. They’re part of Maloughney’s teaching practice.
“The basic foundation of my job as a teacher is communication,” says Maloughney. “To communicate with a student, you need to meet them where they are. They aren’t going to come up to your level at age six to meet you. You need to enter their world.”
Photography
Kateryna Barnes 