Bachelor of Education students get competitive edge

Jenn Lucas and Liz Breton will graduate on June 6 with their Honours Bachelor of Arts & Science and Bachelor of Education degrees.

In the competitive teaching market, what can students do to set themselves apart from the rest? According to Lakehead Orillia Faculty of Education’s Dr. Katherine Becker, real-world volunteering makes all the difference. 

Earlier this month, Lakehead Bachelor of Education students got the chance to participate in the Simcoe County District School Board’s (SCDSB) 2015 The Dragon’s Lair Gifted Outreach (GO) Conference, held at the University Avenue campus. Over 30 Education student volunteers planned and facilitated programs for over 300 Simcoe County elementary school students who are part of the gifted program. It was also a great networking event, as students got the chance to meet current SCDSB teachers, as well as participate in a free professional development workshop on teaching gifted students.

I had the chance to speak to two Education students, Jenn Lucas and Liz Breton, about their experiences. They heard about the conference while in one of Dr. Becker’s classes and jumped at the chance to participate.

“I was part of the gifted program, growing up, and I feel having these events for gifted students is very important,” said Lucas when asked about her motivation for participating in the conference. “I knew I could relate to these students, be in a good position to answer their questions, and make the conference a very fun experience for them.”

Lucas and Breton ran a workshop called ‘The Ultimate Hunt’, based on the curriculum topic of Habitats and Communities. Since the theme of the conference revolved around dragons, students participating in ‘The Ultimate Hunt’ got to complete in a scavenger hunt around Lakehead’s Orillia campus to collect materials that could be used to create a habitat fit for a dragon.

One of the most noticeable things about the conference was the inclusion of many forms of technology throughout the day, including the use of iPads and GPS. 

I asked Breton, who wrote her Honours thesis on the topic of technology in education, why all the tech gear? She explained that today’s children exist in an unprecedented world of technology.

“They’ve grown up with technology and they will need technology to succeed in their future,” she said. “The use of technology propels the curriculum forward and prepares students for life in the modern world.”

Both Lucas and Breton will be graduating, this June, with Breton representing the 2015 graduating class as one of the ‘Voices of Convocation’.

These two aspiring teachers will be doing many exciting things after getting their degrees, thanks to volunteer experiences like this one that give Lakehead Education students a leg up on their competition. Lucas is looking forward to spending time with her four-year old daughter, who she will begin homeschooling in September. As for Breton, she will continue her education as she begins her Master of Education at Lakehead in the fall.     

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Stephanie Edwards is a third year Lakehead University student who works with Lakehead Orillia’s Communications office.