Dean's Message

Dear Reader,

Welcome to the website for the Faculty of Education at Brock University. As the 2013 academic year draws to a close, the Faculty of Education is concluding a strategic and action planning process that began in late 2011. The process has included faculty members, staff and representatives of the graduate and undergraduate student body, as well as part time instructors. Working through the lens of Brock University’s Integrated Strategic Plan, we created Faculty of Education Vision, Values, and Strategic Priority statements. Our Action Plan is set to be finalized in late May, 2013 and I will post the Plan as soon as possible thereafter.

There is no news to report at this time on the possible "extended" Teacher Education program. With a new Premier having taken up office just recently, news may be forthcoming.  Recent events in the Faculty of Education include the 5th annual Teaching with Technology Showcase held in January 2013 at our Hamilton campus. Designed to inform educators about technologies and their application in teaching and learning in diverse settings, the 30 sessions offered innovative ways to use technology to engage students, differentiate instruction, and facilitate 21st century teaching and learning competencies. Participants included teacher candidates, classroom teachers, and school leaders, in addition to representatives from the Ministry of Education and senior school board officials. I thank Dr. Camille Rutherford who always plays a lead role in organizing this conference. In February 2013 we welcomed Dr. Donal O'Donoghue to engage with us as part of our Distinguished Speaker Series. In spite of a very insistent snowstorm, participants very much enjoyed his inspirational and scholarly lecture and small group conversations focusing on arts based research. On April 11th, 2013 in Sankey Chamber Pamela Mordecai and Dr. George Elliott Clarke will present Audible Motion: New School Black Verse. Please plan to attend! I thank Dr. Shelley Griffin and the Professional Development Committee for arranging our Distinguished Speaker Series Lectures and Conversations with faculty and students.

As practice-focused researchers, and research-grounded practitioners we value our work in the Faculty of Education and the contributions made by all of us, faculty, staff, students and alumni. We contribute through service, scholarship, teaching and learning. Partnership is integral to our work. This includes close ties with Aboriginal communities, government and non-government organizations, school boards, colleges and universities within Canada and abroad. Our international partnerships are burgeoning, and they include research, teaching, and exchange programs. A key player in this regard will be Dr. Michelle McGinn, our incoming Associate Dean Research and International Initiatives. Michelle takes up her three year term on July 1st 2013. Michelle will be joined by Dr. Susan Sydor, who will be our new Associate Dean for Students, Centres and Services. Congratulations to Susan and Michelle.
On behalf of the Faculty of Education, I invite you to join our community – a place of discovery, innovation and academic excellence.
 

Sincerely,

Dr. Fiona Blaikie
Dean and Professor, Faculty of Education
Brock University

Dean, Faculty of Education