Visionary Ideas Shared at Ministry of Education Forum
On May 8, scholars from Western Education presented sessions at the Ministry of Education’s “Visions for Learning in the 21st Century” at the Public Library in Toronto.
Presenters from across the province gave sessions on a range of current pedagogical issues, from meeting the needs of Muslim students in public schools to using Web 2.0 tools for instruction and assessment.
Peggy O’Neil (PhD Candidate) presented “An Analytic case Study of Ethics for Ontario Teachers.” Immaculate Namukasa, Dave Watson, John Barnett, Kinful Aryee, and Ron Hanson presented “Interdisciplinary Ideas: A Community Evening with Teacher Candidates on Math, Science, Technology and the Arts, related to Society and the Environment." In the latter group's workshop, the presenters discussed a range of topics that integrate interdisciplinary subjects, including sustainable and energy efficient lifestyles, learning mathematics and science with household items, and using literature and performance arts such as drama and digital performances in teaching.
Namukasa noted that of the Ministry’s forum she most enjoyed “sharing and seeing what other education faculties are doing that is innovative.” Many of the sessions encouraged communication of ideas and feedback from a wide range of stakeholders in education, including the students themselves. The plenary speech was particularly unique because it was delivered by school students on the Minister’s Student Advisory Council, who spoke about their own educational experiences and their vision of Society and the Environment education in the future. Namukasa observed that one young panelist had succinctly described his ideal vision education as being about “learning, rather than being given work.”
More information on this year’s Ministry of Education Forum may be found here.
Photo above: Immaculate Namukasa and a panelist from the Minister's Student Advisory Council (name withheld) discuss students' visions of education in the future.
