Leaning In and Speaking Out Podcast by BU CARES Research Centre

After a diagnosis and a label, does the system work well for students with diverse needs?

Join Dr. Jackie Kirk and guest host Dr. Shelley Kokorudz as they discuss inclusive education with Michael Baker, PhD candidate at the U of M. His research focus is Disability Studies and Inclusive Education, focusing on ableism and K-12 schools, conceptualizing inclusive education, infusing Disability Studies into the K-12 curriculum, and transinstitutionalization.

Are you interested in using an inquiry project that would run all year in your classroom, and engage students, colleagues, parents, and different community partners? Our guest on the show, Peter Grozdanovic, who holds an underlying belief in the importance of guiding students to look critically at social issues in their community, is building on many past inquiry projects successfully completed with his grade 5 classroom in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The researcher, Latika Raisinghani, uses social justice and eco-justice to frame her research in Science Education and the discussion that evolved between these two passionate educators in this episode provides a colourful description of how teachers can bring inquiry, science, deep critical thinking, community partnerships, and critical thinking to life in public school classrooms. Shawna Philpott, Director of Field Experience at Brandon University, joins as a guest host and reflects on some of the exciting experiences she has had using inquiry, as well.

More resources available on our website: www.bucares.ca/podcast

Tune in to learn about the creation of a new initiative geared for Canadian students of African descent - the Loy Excellentia Initiative. This podcast delves into the need for mentorship, workshops, and social events and how Loy Excellentia is aiming to address those needs. Hear about how the project got started, the research leading up to it, and the benefits of the initiative, including feedback from the first event.

Further Resources:

Loy Excellentia Initiative website: https://loyexcellentia.org/,

BU report on Black History Month: https://news.brandonu.ca/2024/03/01/loy-excellentia-initiative-celebrates-black-history-month-at-brandon-university/

https://punchng.com/nigerian-canadian-professor-calls-for-celebration-of-africans-in-diaspora/

Join us for a thoughtful exploration of ungrading in high school physics classrooms, featuring Dr. Ellen Watson from Brandon University and Christopher Sarkonak from Crocus Plains Regional Secondary School. Learn more about their collaborative research, offering a nuanced perspective on reshaping assessment and improving student engagement. #Ungrading #EducationResearch 📚🎓

Articles by Christopher Sarkonak:
Teachers Going Gradeless: https://growbeyondgrades.org/blog/the-ungrading-spectrum
The Manitoba Teacher, https://www.mbteach.org/pdfs/mbt/2022/Fall_22_MBT.pdf

Be sure to check out our website for examples like Christopher's “What Does a Grade Look Like” that was co-constructed with students, one of the final self-assessment sheets that students fill out to help justify their grade selection, and a skills tracking form that students use to track their progress and set goals throughout the course.

In this insightful episode, our guests Dr. Candy Jones from the Faculty of Education at Brandon University, Julie Seeley from Frontier School Division, and Jessica Willows from the University of Victoria join us to explore the profound impact of rurality on their experiences as educators. Delving into their unique journeys, we uncover the invaluable gifts that rural settings have bestowed upon us, shaping our perspectives and influencing our approaches to education. Together, we discuss the lessons we have learned from rurality, both personally and professionally, and how these rural influences have become powerful tools in our educational practices. Join us for an engaging conversation as we reflect on the treasures that rurality has provided, and discover how these educators have seamlessly integrated these gifts into their work to create meaningful and impactful learning environments.

On this episode, we spoke with Welly Minyangadou Ngokobi (McGill University) and Chuwkuanugo Joseph Okudo (President of Brandon University Students’ Union) about what institutions can learn from international students. We discussed how international students carry both inherited knowledge and academic knowledge, and that institutions need to recognize this strength. We talked about strategies for cultural responsivity, strengthening participation, and for building a sense of community where student expertise and intergenerational knowledge is recognized and valued.

Be sure to check out Welly's recent publication here: Ngokobi, M. W. (2022). On Decolonizing the curriculum: thoughts of a Black teacher. Currere Exchange Journal, Vol 6, No 2.