Learning Transforms

Last week, we officially welcomed Dr. Vanessa Andreotti to UVic as our new Dean of Education. She was appointed in April 2022 with plans for a transition year leading up to her five-year term beginning on July 1, 2023. Dr. Catherine McGregor, our Associate Dean, Graduate Programs and Research, graciously stepped up to take on the position of Acting Dean for the faculty during this transition year. UVic Faculty of Education Community Relations Coordinator Jasdeep Randhawa spoke with Catherine and Vanessa to learn about their experiences with this process, their reflections on the past year and their hopes for the future.

In this episode, we had a great conversation with doctoral student Suriani Dzulkifli about her research and her journey as an international student in Canada, from her undergraduate studies in Ottawa to her current research in the Department of Educational Psychology & Leadership Studies at UVic. Suriani describes her use of arts-based methodology in her research to investigate the different ways in which international students navigate the three education settings: formal education, non-formal education, and informal learning that we do on a daily basis.

Jeff Hopkins is the creator and principal for the Pacific School of Innovation and Inquiry (PSII) located in downtown Victoria. In this episode, Hopkins explains why he chose to create this new high school to fill gaps in education using questions and quests and how it benefits students. Read more about PSII: https://learningstorm.org/

We had a great conversation with Wendy-Sue Andrew, UVic’s 2020 Education Distinguished Alumni of the Year. Wendy-Sue is now the executive director for Lifetime Networks. Living with her son diagnosed with autism and cerebral palsy, she moved from being a full-time teacher to helping out children of parents who like her wondered: What is going to happen when the parents are no longer there to support their children? What could they do to have their children on the autism spectrum engage and connect with people to create lasting relationships that will support them through life? Lifetime Networks is now helping over 400 people connect and become more independent. Learn more about Lifetime Networks: https://www.lifetimenetworks.org/

Assistant professor Alison Shields invited Teresa Vander Meer-Chassé as an artist-in-residence to create beadwork and explore how she connects with students the Indigenous way. They explored what happened as Teresa sat at a table beading and took the time to meet with passersby and art education classrooms being sent her way. They sat with her and learned through watching and conversations. Connecting around a kitchen table brings out personal stories and larger questions. Let’s hear what they have to say about beadwork and how taking the time helps to learn and connect with each other.

Thomas Webb’s experience in science started at a young age when he started exploring life's mysteries along with a group of primary school kids enrolled in the UVic Science Venture program. His discoveries inspired him to follow a path in Science. He is now one of the program coordinators for Science Venture. Webb explains the nuts and bolts of the program and shares how the program changed his life. Find out more about Science Venture: https://www.scienceventure.ca/

Being a university student can be stressful at times. We had a conversation with Annie Lucas, a nurse with the University Health Services (HEAL) to find out what services are available on campus and what works for students. Find out more about UVic Student Services: https://www.uvic.ca/studentaffairs/departments/student-services/index.php

UVic psychology and education students Vishnu Punwani and Parker Johnson started The Table, a welcoming safe space where people of colour (POCs) are invited to share their stories and experiences with the community. People coming from all walks of life and generations express themselves around a table to further intercultural reconciliation, share their truths and connect with the stories of others. Everyone is welcome to sit in and listen. www.facebook.com/thisistabletalk/

Nick Henry is an Elementary Teacher Education student from the Pauquachin Nation in Saanich. He is the host of W̱ILṈEW̱ Radio, a CFUV radio show exploring topics such as language revitalization, Indigenous art, W̱SÁNEĆ stories, local music groups and much more.

Care for a ride? Kinesiology alumnus Carson Sage, founder of the Victoria chapter of Cycling Without Age, shares what inspired him to provide bike rides to seniors. Cycling Without Age is a service that helps them enjoy nature and fresh air as they are driven around the community in a rickshaw-like bike by volunteer cyclists. He talks about the benefits to both the users and the volunteers. He explains how he turned this project into a key component of his Kinesiology Master’s degree. Get on board and enjoy the ride! More on the Victoria chapter of Cycling Without Age: https://cyclingwithoutage.ca/victoria/

This episode explores what the Centre for Outreach Education (CORE) is about. Guests Carmen Rodriguez, Chair of the CORE steering committee, along with Claire Moser, tutor at the centre for the last 3 years, tell us more about who benefits from the services of the centre and how it works. While the CORE is dedicated to helping children and youth with special needs, it also offers an opportunity for our teacher education students to explore fun and untraditional ways of teaching as they prepare to become teachers. The CORE also offers grants in the community for initiatives furthering the help of children with diverse needs and much more, thanks to the generosity of donors. Learn more about the CORE: https://www.uvic.ca/education/core/

Dr. Anita Prest teaches Music Education at UVic. Inspired by her time working as a music educator in Keremeos, BC, Prest is very interested in mixing rural music education and Indigenous education. Prest works on furthering the relationship between music teachers and Indigenous culture-bearers, knowledge keepers, and cultural workers to introduce Indigenous music and their cultures in schools. “We have a responsibility as music educators and as people who are teaching future music educators to do this work,” she says. To the question “how do we do this without appropriation?”, she emphasizes the importance of respect and building strong relationships with the community members and the culture.

Dr. E. Paul Zehr is a neuroscientist, a biomedical researcher, and a professor in the University of Victoria’s School of Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education. He teaches kinesiology and neuroscience and his research focuses primarily on understanding neuromuscular plasticity; the ability of the human body to recover after neurological traumas. He believes in the need for science to communicate to society in an approachable way. One of the ways Zehr does this is by using superheroes as metaphors. Zehr’s books include Becoming Batman, Inventing IronMan, Project Superhero, and Creating Captain America. One of the major points Zehr stresses is how advanced the thinking is within the comic book genre. Technology which seemed like science fiction is now reality. He often juxtaposes images from comics with images of real neuroscience technology. Zehr is finding that incorporating superheroes in to his courses has helped create an interdisciplinary appreciation for science. To learn more about E. Paul

Dr. E. Paul Zehr is a neuroscientist, a biomedical researcher, and a professor in the University of Victoria’s School of Exercise Science, Physical and Health Education. He teaches kinesiology and neuroscience and his research focuses primarily on understanding neuromuscular plasticity; the ability of the human body to recover after neurological traumas. He also believes in the need for science to communicate to society in an approachable way. In this episode, Zehr talks about the ethical concerns facing scientific research and discovery. The ethics of everything from medical studies to gene editing to artificial intelligence. Though most research begins with the best intentions, in a society where discoveries and advancements can be made so quickly, how can we be sure what the best options are for the results? Zehr hopes that his books will help bring more people in to the discussion, encouraging everybody to get involved with ethical decision-making. He includes tips on how this can be achieved. Some of

2019 UVic Education Distinguished Alumni of the Year award winner Alex Nelson is recognized for his lifetime of achievements to change the world of sports and recreation for Indigenous peoples and for his work in suicide prevention. Nelson graduated from the University of Victoria Faculty of Education’s Recreation and Health program. Sports can provide youth with inspirations and role models. Inspired by his own life and his uncle, Nelson coaches, creates sports programming and believes in the ability of sport to foster personal skill and builds community. He helped create programs specifically for Indigenous youth. For Nelson, soccer was a chance to leave the school behind for a brief moment. He is a residential school survivor and discovered his love for soccer during his time in Alert Bay. “It is an opportunity and a time where you leave that institute, you leave that building, you leave that smell, the regimentation, the staff, and all that it stands for,” he says. “And now you have this freedom. You

Dr. Jillian Roberts is a clinical psychologist, an app developer, a best-selling author, and an associate professor in the Department of Educational Psychology and Leadership Studies at the University of Victoria. Her latest book: "Kids, Sex, and Screens: Raising Strong Resilient Children in the Sexualized Digital Age", is designed to help parents guide children through issues like sexting and cyber-bullying, which they may not have grown up with themselves. The book’s approach compares parenting to a seven-point compass. Each point representing a different concept for parents to understand as they communicate with their children. In this episode, Roberts discusses those points to help parents create a family capable of facing adversity and overcoming obstacles together. The seven points are: Start Early, Give Unconditional Love, Stay Current, Set Smart Boundaries, Nurture Relationships, Lose Stigma and Prejudice, and Build Resilience. To learn more, visit Roberts’ website: FamilySparks.com Her books are

Dr. Ryan Rhodes is an exercise psychologist, a professor, and the Director of the Behavioural Medicine Lab (BMED) at the University of Victoria. His research focuses on the behaviours and psychology behind physical activity and health. Setting goals is key to a healthy lifestyle, but what happens when we can’t make our intentions a reality? Rhodes’ research has shown that over half of those with good exercise intentions fail to follow through. He studies this gap between intention and action, and the behaviours associated with it. Rhodes has learned that motivation, self-regulation, and planning and prioritization are key in achieving goals and creating habits. Listen to his tricks if you want to stick to your new year’s resolutions. Visit his lab website: http://ow.ly/Wpu150k5snz

Dr. Shauneen Pete is the Indigenous Resurgence Coordinator at the University of Victoria’s Department of Indigenous Education in the Faculty of Education. As a long-time educator, Pete heard from teacher education students that they were not given enough formal Indigenous education in the school system. As a result, the potential educators were scared of integrating the province’s Indigenous education requirements. Even some faculty members had never had structured education about Indigenous culture. In her work, she strives to help fill these gaps. In this episode, Pete discusses how pedagogy and conversation can help reduce the stigma around integrating indigenous content in to the classroom. Learn how she plans to support faculty and staff through this process as she steps in her role at the Faculty of Education.

Alan Chaffe is a sessional professor at the University of Victoria’s Department of Economics and a PhD student in the Faculty of Education’s Leadership Studies program. Chaffe’s research is taking him across Canada to visit queer theatre festivals. Looking not at the actual content of the performances, but rather at the festivals themselves within the broader LGBTQ+ movement, Chaffe is researching what effects these festivals have on the communities that hold them and on society as a whole. Chaffe completed over 60 hours of interviews with 70 participants. His research is teaching us a lot about the ways communities are built and bonds are formed between performers. In towns that lack queer spaces, these kinds of festivals are depended on to fuel confidence for members of the LGBTQ+ community and also to help educate allies. In this episode, Chaffe talks more about the educational process fostered by these festivals and the ways in which they address broader social movements.

Sam Liu is an Assistant Professor at the University of Victoria’s School of Exercise Science, Physical & Health Education (EPHE). His research focuses on the ways in which social media can be used to promote health. The rise of social media and digital technology has brought with it controversy. Smartphones, screen time, and social networking can be used for good, but can also have negative impacts on our health. They can create communities, but they can also cause anxiety and other health issues. Liu’s research studies both sides of the argument. Even more than just studying the impacts of social media, Liu studies how and when we can intervene when the negative side starts to outweigh the positive. For example, Liu and his team are mining Twitter data and comparing it to other biomedical data to determine physical activity levels within certain geographical communities. With this data, they are able to monitor in real-time which areas may need help becoming more physically active. Listen to this episo