This course focusses on understanding the needs of young adolescents, which involve identity formation, agency, self-discovery, and relationships. Signature pedagogies for middle school learners as well as current trends and recent research, for organizing and planning curriculum, transitions, and for structuring classrooms as learner centred spaces of intentional design are core content areas.

An introduction to the historical, philosophical, sociological, and psychological foundations of music education. Topics include program development, teaching methods, administration, supervision, and evaluation.

This initial immersive field experience will take place off campus over a weekend in a community situated on the ancestral, traditional, unceded territory of the Stó:lo peoples. Focus of inquiry will center on relationality and the importance of critical self-reflection in education by interrogating worldview beliefs, teacher identity and bias, deconstruction of colonialism, and issues of social justice. Localized Indigenous wisdom and knowledge in collaboration with Stó:lo elders and knowledge keepers will inform all aspects of learning what it means to be an educator and to educate.

This course builds upon the information presented in introductory courses to inclusive education. It is intended for pre-professional Education students and those in psychology, social services, and nursing, and is designed to provide information and strategies for: assessing the needs of students, developing intervention techniques, and utilizing the resources of various professionals to meet the diverse needs of exceptional students and exceptional families. Enrolment in this class includes a 25 hour practicum in a special needs setting.

An exploration of early childhood theories, philosophical perspectives, effective practices, curriculum and assessment and an overall understanding of what it means to effectively support and nurture early learners. The vital role of a well prepared early learning educator and the importance of learning through play, emergent curriculum and authentic assessment methods will be thoroughly examined.

These initial field experiences provide students with meaningful educational experiences in schools and classrooms. Students relate their studies in the university classroom to school settings. Throughout the course and school visits, students become more confident in being in the classroom, interacting with students and teachers, and in carrying out activities that prepare them for more advanced practica. Pre-service teachers are involved in 25 hours of classroom experience, normally 3-4 hours a week for 8 weeks in a K-12 school.

These initial field experiences provide students with meaningful educational experiences in schools and classrooms. Students relate their studies in the university classroom to school settings. Throughout the course and school visits, students become more confident in being in the classroom, interacting with students and teachers, and in carrying out activities that prepare them for more advanced practica. Pre-service teachers are involved in 25 hours of classroom experience, normally 3-4 hours a week for 8 weeks in a K-12 school.

A consideration of models of student assessment that contribute to effective and meaningful student learning. Assessment of learning, for learning, and as learning. Topics include: underlying perspectives on student assessment, including faith informed perspectives; linking assessment to curriculum and learning, grading practices and guidelines, sampling student performance, keeping records, communicating the results of assessment, interpreting and using the results of large-scale testing.

An overview of educational media and technologies in the classroom. Students will engage this course as collaborators, content creators, and tinkerers, working together for a discerning praxis of educational media and technologies.

This course is an introduction to the sociology of education as an analysis of the role of education in society. In particular, the course will explore societal trends affecting the institutions and practices of education; interpretative paradigms and related research studies; group dynamics in education; religious, social, and economic factors and issues in Canadian education.