Urban Learner 6: Challenges and Issues in Urban Classrooms

Location: Vancouver
In association with the Vancouver Elementary School Teachers' Association (VESTA) & the Vancouver Secondary Teachers' Association (VSTA)

Program in progress as of January 2006.

We are delighted to be offering with VESTA and VSTA a sixth Urban Learner cohort looking at the challenges and issues in urban classrooms. Designed specifically for secondary and elementary teachers, the M.Ed. cohort program focuses on the processes and practices of urban education. Educators are invited to participate in an exciting program of study that enhances and contributes to the understanding needed to improve and re-imagine urban educational practice within diverse urban schools and the communities they serve.

Participants will reflect on their teaching practices and theoretical understanding of education within social, political, and urban contexts. Issues of diversity, methods of inquiry, evaluation, new media, and communal and civic agency are just a few of the various urban education topics that will be explored. The program concludes with an urban-orientated research project of choice. Examples of work by students in earlier cohorts can be seen here.

Courses are offered after school or on weekends at the VSTA/VESTA offices on Commercial Drive in Vancouver, with the actual program developed in consultation with participating students. A cohort of approximately twenty students will work together for approximately a three-year period, supported by a faculty advisor, and connected to one another electronically.

Program

This program of studies is course-based with a research project that meets TQS requirements. At least six courses are offered locally, and their specific focus will be determined by the consensus of the cohort. The remaining courses, including electives, may be taken during summer school, via distance education, or at co-operating universities. Elective courses may be offered locally for cohorts to reflect the cohort's collective interests, concerns or questions, if numbers warrant.

Schedule

The program is offered over three years, and is scheduled to meet the needs of the busy teacher. During the September through March period, courses are typically offered after regular school hours (4:30 - 7:00, once a week for 13 weeks), and/or on a series of Saturdays. Special schedules can be arranged by consensus.

MEd Program (30CR)
	Fall Term	January Term	Spring Term	Summer Terms
Year One	Registration Deadline September 1st, 2005	Living Inquiry in Learning Communities (CORE)	Theorizing Practice: Surfacing Assumptions and Perspectives (CORE)	Open Spaces: on or off-campus electives Summer Writing Institute
Year Two	Investigating Inquiry: Understanding a thematic topic in/with research (CORE)	Teacher Inquiry: Research Project (CORE)	Teacher Inquiry: Research Project continued (CORE)	Open Spaces: on or off-campus electives
Year Three	Teacher inquiry: (Re)presenting Research (CORE)	Open Spaces: on or off-campus electives	Investigating our Practices Conference Graduation!

Note: Off-campus electives are sometimes offered and can be taken by the cohort as a group.

Communication

Communication outside classes will primarily be through electronic means. Participants must have computer and E-mail/Internet access. One way UBC students can get Internet and E-mail access is through Netinfo, a service provided by the UBC Library and ITServices.

Admission

All students must meet UBC Faculty of Graduate Studies requirements which include:

• Bachelor's degree or recognized equivalent from an accredited university-level institution
• At least four years of study with a B+ average in third and fourth year-level course work, or at least 12 credits of third- or fourth-year courses in the A- grade range (at UBC 80% or higher) in the field of intended graduate study
• Sufficient preparatory academic background to carry out graduate work in a chosen field
• Evidence of English language proficiency

Tuition

Tthe combined program fee for this cohort group includes the tuition fee ($9762.03) and the off-campus delivery fee ($3240.00). Both the tuition and off-campus delivery fee are tax deductible.

Program fees will be paid over a minimum of nine installments of $1444.67 plus applicable student fees, payable in May, September and January of each of three years. The combined per-installment rate will be guaranteed for the duration of the nine regular installments. Students extending their program of study beyond this period may be subject to fee increases.

Please contact Tracey Degner (604-827-5592) for more details or if you have problems with the registration process.

Last update: October 23, 2007 3:55 PM

External Programs & Learning Technologies
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Phone: 604-822-2013
Toll free (in North America): 1-888-492-1122
Fax: 604-822-2015
E-Mail: eplt.educ@ubc.ca

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