EDSO 3200 – Social Studies Methods
Through studying socials through a new lens during this course, I was challenged to step outside my bias. This course that helped me prepare to be a more thoughtful teacher, trained to consider not only the “what” in history, but also the who else, why it mattered, how the same events can affect groups of people differently, and how consequences may appear decades or even centuries later. Social studies courses when I was in elementary and high school were largely a white, patriarchal, national narrative. Impacts of events were described largely or solely from the perspective of colonizers. This course was important in my growth in learning how there is no one true narrative, rather a million individual experiences and stories. As a teacher, this course reinforced the importance of considering alternative perspectives and the importance of teaching outside a Canadian National narrative.
EDEF 3100 – History of Education
This course prompted me to examine the maturation of my global perspectives as I mapped out my journey that brought me to my pursuit of an education degree. One concept that was important for me to consider was the privilege I have based on the circumstances of my birth. I critically reflected on how these conditions afforded me advantages compared to other individuals in my community and around the world. This course helped degrade biases, prejudices, and ethnocentric perspectives.
EDEF 3200 – Theoretical Frameworks of Education
This course provided interesting perspectives on cultures and religions around the world, casting light on much of the motivations behind the behaviours of different cultures. Understanding peoples and cultures around the world that may look different from what you grew up being exposed to is critical to remove “otherness”. For me to be an effective teacher, I must be able to respect children as autonomous individuals who may see the world differently than I do. This course helped me to continue developing a mindset of acceptance, tolerance, and respect.
Studies in European Civilization
Before taking this course, I had never been outside of North America; my world views and experiences were respectively narrow and limited. This theoretical journey was enlightening to me as a young adult as I learned about European civilizations, their history, and what they look like today. The learning in this course was reinforced through travel during my study abroad semester, making my learning experiential, immersive, and truly unforgettable. This course was one of the first steps of my personal growth in becoming a global citizen and learning about non-Canadian perspectives.
Language & Culture – Vienna
This course richly showcased the beautiful culture of Vienna, from architecture and gardens to music and Mozart, fostering deep and lasting appreciation on my part. My first exposure to German language was through this course. Previously, I had only studied the two “official” languages taught in Canadian schools, French and English. Learning ein bisschen Deutsch was excellent at humbling me and helping me understand just how difficult it can be to be an ELL student. As a future teacher, this course was profoundly beneficial to me, creating space for empathy for students who may also be struggling to try to tune their ear to an unfamiliar language.