Faculty of Education News Bulletin

Top Stories

Congratulations to all of our Education graduates who crossed the stage to receive their degrees at York’s Fall Convocation ceremony! We’re extremely proud of you!

Mark Beckles encourages graduands to ‘be among the brightest of lights’ – At York University’s Fall Convocation ceremony on the morning of Oct. 16, an honorary degree was presented to financial services executive Mark Beckles, vice-president of social impact and innovation at the Royal Bank of Canada. Read more

Educational studies program offers valuable, practical experiences – Rachelle Campigotto, a course director in York University’s Faculty of Education, is helping facilitate community placement experiences for aspiring teachers that combine theoretical knowledge with hands-on experience and realities that will better prepare students for their future careers. Read more

York U conference to demonstrate leadership in psychosocial studies – Organized by three York University professors, a two-day conference titled “Psychosocial Transformations: The School, The Clinic, and The Archive” will consider the connection between psychological and social change in challenging times, while honouring the impact that Distinguished Research Professor Deborah Britzman has had on the field. Read more

Listen to Associate Professor Vidya Shah speak on her experience of redefining leadership in colonized spaces, overcoming bouts of depression and embracing peace within on the Women 4 Peace podcast presented by Aina-Nia Learning Journey Inc. Listen to podcast

Assistant Professor Vidya Shah presented a keynote titled “Teaching in Times of Crisis” at the Teaching in Focus (TiF) Conference presented by the York University Teaching Commons

Assistant Professor Stephanie Fearon participated in a recent virtual research talk for OISE’s Centre of Black Studies in Education Black Researcher and Author Speaker Series. Watch video

Associate Professor Qiang Zha has been invited to deliver a keynote speech at the Internationalization in Higher Education: Navigating Global Challenges and Opportunities conference (IHECON 2024), 25-27 October 2024 at Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun-Turkiye

Course director Jafar Hussain was part of a panel presentation titled Generative AI Pedagogies: Classroom Strategies & Assignments at the Teaching in Focus (TiF) Conference presented by the York University Teaching Commons

The 2024 President’s Report includes the following highlights from our Faculty

• York University celebrates full funding achievement for Jean Augustine Chair
• Addressing systemic inequities in youth homelessness

Academic Programs Office

Pondering Pedagogy Series – The James Baldwin Symposium held on October 23 included two panels featuring faculty members Mario Di Paolantonio, Molade Osibodu, and Aparna Mishra Tarc in the first panel (moderated by graduate student Atreyu Lewis), and Professor Emeritus Daniel Yon in the second panel. The event also included Jennifer Grant from the York U Libraries who provided resources to the Baldwin Archives across institutions. For teaching and research, access the resources here (or scan the QR code)

Special thanks to Professor Emeritus Warren Crichlow for leading us in thought – in celebration of James Baldwin’s centenary at York University. Stay tuned for more events in the Pondering Pedagogy Series organized by the Office of the Associate Dean, Academic Programs

SAVE THE DATE

Black History Education: Transformative Pedagogies and Contemporary Educational Encounters

Wednesday, December 4, 2024
Webinar

Dr. LaGarrett King, Professor and Director, Graduate School of Education, University of Buffalo
Dr. Funké Aladejebi, Associate Professor, Department of History, University of Toronto

This webinar is open and free to all. Registration details soon.

Cyclical Program Review (CPR) – The Bachelor of Arts (Educational Studies) and the Master of Leadership & Community Engagement degrees are both undergoing a cyclical program review. The CPR self-study reports have been submitted. Thank you to all participating faculty and staff for their input

Course Scheduling – We will be adding 10-minutes travel time between classes starting in Summer 2025. In the new arrangement of the academic scheduling timetable, students will see 9:30 a.m. – 12:20 p.m. and 12:30 p.m. – 2:20 p.m. (instead of 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. and 12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.). Please plan courses accordingly. Until this arrangement formally goes into effect, Course Directors are encouraged to use their discretion to provide students with possible transition time to get to classes across campus

Student Services Office

The Faculty of Education Office of Student Services (OSS) BA/BEd team were nominated for the Harriet Lewis Team Award for Service Excellence – Established in honour of former University Secretary and General Counsel Harriet Lewis, the Harriet Lewis Team Award for Service Excellence recognizes excellence in service and support to students, faculty, staff and/or other service users.  In a letter to the team from President and Vice-Chancellor Rhonda Lenton, she shared “Your accomplishments are valued, recognized, and appreciated. Your colleagues speak about the outstanding contribution you bring to York University, and how you go above and beyond. We are extremely grateful for your service, hard work, and dedication. Your commitment makes a lasting impact on our community and reverberates beyond our campuses into the wider world”.  The award went to our colleagues in the Student Engagement Team in LAPS, but we are extremely proud of our OSS team for the work they do each day to support both our current and prospective students

Ontario Universities Fair – On the weekend of October 5^th and 6^th faculty, staff and students joined the Faculty of Education booth at the Ontario Universities Fair.  Our team gave prospective candidates a wonderful feeling about what they will experience in the program(s). It was a successful weekend for York University welcoming over 78,000 visitors

Fall Campus Day – York University will be hosting Fall Campus Day for prospective students on Saturday, November 2nd from 10:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. We will be in the Second Student Centre (south side of campus) offering two information sessions and the ED Student Services team will be available (kiosk) to answer questions from prospective students

We’re happy to have you join us to chat with the students and families about our Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Arts Educational Studies degree programs. We anticipate about 4,000 students visiting the campus and meeting with YU students, staff and faculty

Let me (Vanessa Grafi) know if you can come by for a few hours. More info on the day is posted at https://futurestudents.yorku.ca/fall-campus-day

Graduate Program Office

Graduate Program in Education Information Session

Deaf and Hard of Hearing Office

Enrolment for 2024-2025 – The total enrolment for the 2024-2025 academic year is 43 students. This includes 5 Full-Time and 38 Part-Time students from all regions of Ontario and several provinces in Canada. The program is offered online – synchronously for Full-Time students and asynchronously for Part-Time students

August Orientation Week – Classes began August 19th with a full week for all first-year students who participated synchronously online

A major focus of this week is to orient the students to the online learning environment and become comfortable using various applications such as eClass, Panopto, Kritik, OneDrive, Padlet and Zoom. Students were also introduced to strategies that allow for access (e.g., captioning video assignments) and are necessary not only during the program but for their future practice as a teacher of the deaf

Field Experiences – Students have been out visiting various DHH classrooms across the province. This helps inform their understanding of what it is like to work with deaf and hard of hearing students before their fall practicum begins in early November

OCT Reaccreditation – The DHH Program is up for reaccreditation this year. Work is underway to complete the required documentation by the deadline of December 1, 2024

Upcoming Events – The DHH Program will be hosting an Information Night on Monday, November 4, 2024, for certified teachers who are interested in learning more about the application process for the DHH Program. Applications will be available on our website in mid-December and due March 21, 2025. For more information visit https://www.yorku.ca/edu/students/deaf-and-hard-of-hearing/

Research Office

On October 22, the Research Office hosted Apprenticeship and Mentorship in Research Assistantships: Best Practices, Challenges and Opportunities (online)
Thank you to: Natalia Balyasnikova (moderator) and the panelists, Nombuso Dlamini, Carl James, Cristina Delgado Vintimilla, Cynthia Kwakyewah, Alicja Frankowsky, Tannaz Zargarian, and Stella Kim, for a very engaging and enlightening discussion

UPCOMING EVENTS 

Conducting Research in School Boards: Exploring challenges and opportunities
Organized by: Gillian Parekh, Faculty of Education, York University

Thursday, November 14, 2024
2:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Online

Building Research Connections: A Spotlight on Faculty Research
Speakers: sava saheli singh & Korina Jocson, Faculty of Education, York University

Thursday, November 28, 2024
10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
In person

Professional Learning Office

Winter 2025 Additional Qualification (AQ) courses are open for registration – Registration for our winter Additional Qualification (AQ) session is now open! Take an AQ, Additional Basic Qualification (ABQ) or Principal’s Qualification Program (PQP) course with us this winter. Learn more

New Publications

Professor Connie Mayer has co-authored a paper titled Reading achievement and deaf student with cochlear in Cochlear Implants International

Professor Connie Mayer has authored a paper titled The Positive Impact of Cochlear Implants on Literacy Outcomes for Deaf Children A Summary of Recent Research in Cochlear Implant International Community of Action

Associate professor Vidya Shah has co-authored an article titled In between jockeying and resisting proximities to whiteness: the challenges and promises of cross-racial solidarity in Race Ethnicity and Education

Assistant professor Stephanie Fearon has an article titled “Social Transformation: Black Mother Scholars Redefining Scholarly Inquiry Through Black Artistic Expression” in the Journal of Culture and Values in Education

Professor emeritus Heather Lotherington and associate professor Kurt Thumlert have co-authored an article with colleagues titled “Exploring opportunities for language immersion in the posthuman spectrum: lessons learned from digital agents” in Interactive Technology and Smart Education

SSHRC post doc Edmund Adam (who is working with associate professor Qiang Zha) has authored an article titled Catalyzing Regional Influence: The United Arab Emirates’ and Qatar’s Bids for Educational Leadership in the MENA Region through International Education Hubs in International Higher Education

In The Media

Student teachers only answered 60% of phonics questions correctly, survey says
Dean Robert Savage was quoted in the Globe and Mail October 28

Why the Toronto District School Board is exploring ‘podium’ schools
Professor Sue Winton was quoted in an article on Toronto Today October 1

UN summit outcome shows higher education has work to do
Charles Hopkins, UNESCO Chair in Reorienting Education towards Sustainability was quoted in an article in University World News September 27

UN Summit of the Future ‘must recognise’ key role of education
Katrin Kohl, co-chair UNESCO Chair in Reorienting Education towards Sustainability was quoted in an article on University World News September 24

News From The Community

New YU Learn employee courses and programs reflect changing context, emerging skills – Registration is open for new and enhanced employee learning and development courses, programs and series via YU Learn, designed to drive York University’s strategic focus and talent mobility and support the York U Forward Action Plan priorities. Learn more

York University launches new Well-being Strategy – York University has launched its first Well-being Strategy and signed on to the Okanagan Charter. Read more

York University Libraries offers open education course opportunity – York University faculty and staff who are interested in learning more about how to incorporate open educational practices into their teaching can register now for the York University Libraries’ four-week course on open education and open educational resources (OER). Read more

Faculty-led Study Abroad Courses – York International’s upcoming Faculty-led study abroad programs 2025 are just around the corner, and we’re hosting information sessions to provide all the details you need. Learn more

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