Education reps return from Bhutan

CALGARY, June 25, 2008 – Two Faculty of Education professors returned recently from an official visit to a country some call ‘The Last Shangri-La’ – with plans to deepen that international connection.

Dr. Ann Sherman, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Education, and the faculty’s Dr. Duffie Van Balkom spent a few weeks this May in Bhutan, where both met with government officials from the Ministries of Education, as well as representatives from the Royal University of Bhutan, to talk about issues in higher education. Read more about the Faculty’s visit to Bhutan.
 

U of C professor wins copyright case

CALGARY, June 10, 2008 – A recent Alberta Provincial Court ruling and Alberta Court of Queens’ Bench appeal regarding the unauthorized publication of a textbook entitled Culture-Infused Counselling – Celebrating the Canadian Mosaic have both found in favour of two Calgary-based professors.

University of Calgary Faculty of Education professor Dr. Nancy Arthur and Athabasca University professor Dr. Sandra Collins have been granted damages following the unauthorized publication of their book by Calgary-based publisher Detselig Enterprises Limited/Temeron Books Inc. in 2005.  Read more

Global science education accord gets Faculty help

CALGARY, July 28, 2008 – World leaders in science education met this past season in Hong Kong to discuss ways to radically rethink the way science is taught – with one young University of Calgary Education professor amongst them.

Associate Professor HsingChi von Bergmann joined forces with physics Nobel Prize winner Leon Lederman, William Schmidt (former head of the Office of Policy Studies and Program Assessment for the National Science Foundation) and other international delegates in May for a two-day conference to discuss the formation of the Global Science Education Network (GSEN).  Read more on this innovative education accord.

Save this Date - September 13

September 13:
Kick-Off and the Pre-Game Tailgate Party are the U of C’s free back-to-school celebration for students, staff and alumni. This year, festivities include a Saturday tailgate party and football game between the Dinos and the U of A Golden Bears. Watch for the Education booth at the pre-game Tailgate Party (open at 11:00 a.m.), where early-bird alumni can pick up one of our coveted Faculty of Education hats!

Save This Date: October 3 to 5

October 3 to 5:
Radical Humanities: A Coast to Coast Symposium: This unique conference celebrates the Clemente Course, an innovative educative program that seeks to engage poor and marginalized citizens in the transformative power of university-level humanities studies. The October symposium in Calgary is a unique opportunity to gather the students, teachers and co-ordinators of the various chapters of the North American program together for a weekend of information exchange and professional development. Visit the symposium’s website for more information.

The Faculty of Education’s 2008-2009 Professional Development seminar series is currently in development – watch this space for more on these free information sessions.

Alumni Scuttlebutt

Ever wonder where your Ed classmates got to? Maybe they’re wondering about you, too. Share your whereabouts by e-mailing us at kjmcarth@ucalgary.ca – we’re always looking for news stories on both recent and ‘seasoned’ graduates.

Education in the Community - Naturalization project

Naturalization project unveils unique signage
CALGARY, June 23, 2008 – If you’ve ever visited a school naturalization project in Calgary, you know how they work: typically, a group of students, parents and teachers raise money to create a small oasis of native perennials and trees in the corner of an otherwise trampled-down schoolyard.

But chances are you’ve never seen a naturalization project like Dr. E.W. Coffin School’s initiative, the Centennial Natureground and Whispering Woods Natural Area Park. With its array of rescued native plants and its sandstone amphitheatre, this multi-layered, multi-year ecological project has already won an Emerald Award for Environmental Excellence (2005).  Read more about Whispering Woods.

Education in the Community - Counselling services to immigrant and refugee youths

CALGARY, July 24, 2008 – Imagine what it may be like to move to a new country where there are no soldiers, men, or children firing guns on the streets, where people speak to you in a language that you may not understand, where you are required to attend school every day even on the days when it is snowing and freezing cold outside, and where the risks of being kidnapped, raped, or attacked are relatively low.

“In cases where a family has fled to Canada from a war-torn country, children may have witnessed any number of horrific events – death, destruction of their homes and their communities, even the torture of parents or siblings,” says U of C Faculty of Education applied psychology doctoral student Suzie Bisson. Read more about this student’s work.

Awards - Ted T. Aoki Award

A U of C educator who "has had a significant impact on how teacher education is understood in today's world" was recently awarded the highly regarded Ted T. Aoki Award. Dr. Hans Smits, Associate Dean, Division of Teacher Preparation in the Faculty of Education, was presented the award this spring at the annual Canadian Association for Curriculum Studies (CSSE) conference in Vancouver. According to the award nomination, Dr. Smits has "brought to life one of the most innovative teacher education programs in the country."

Awards - Canadian counselling honour

A prestigious Canadian counselling honour, given out only "under exceptional circumstances," was granted to the Faculty of Education's Dr. Vivian Lalande. Presented May 15 at the association's annual conference in Moncton, New Brunswick, the Canadian Counselling Association's Professional Contribution Award recognizes Lalande's substantial and prolonged service to the field of counseling in Canada.

Awards - Golden Ladle

And last but not least, the Golden Ladle found a home once again with the Faculty of Education, which won the Charity Chili Cook-Off for the third year in a row. Education’s charity of choice, the Dr. Michael Pyryt Memorial Fund, received a cheque for $687, thanks to the guests at the 6th Annual President’s Chili Lunch, who paid to taste the competing chilis and vote for their favorite.

Alumni Update

Summer 2008

In this issue...

	Education reps return from Bhutan
	U of C professor wins copyright case
	Global science education accord gets Faculty help
	Save this Date - September 13
	Save This Date: October 3 to 5
	Alumni Scuttlebutt
	Education in the Community - Naturalization project
	Education in the Community - Counselling services to immigrant and refugee youths
	Awards - Ted T. Aoki Award
	Awards - Canadian counselling honour
	Awards - Golden Ladle

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