With New Eyes - Jeri Wylie Smith

I had my eyes opened to something else that I have been taking for granted.  The practicum students were very open about their amazement at the pace at which we work during an average day.  Maham told me often that she could not get over the speed at which we move, making untold numbers of decisions, answering many questions, and dealing with several student issues, questions and concerns nearly simultaneously.  In an early meeting with university supervisors, we were told that university students find their practicum experiences absolutely exhausting.  I discussed this with my student teacher and Maham said it was true.  It really hit me that teachers are multi-taskers extraordinaire.  If we did only one thing at once, we’d never get through a term!  I developed a new appreciation for the role that good health and abundant energy plays in making us effective instructors.

Maham, Jason, and Claire left here espousing great admiration for our college, our students and, especially, our department.  They enjoyed getting to know our staff.  They also enjoyed meeting the students and expressed a deep appreciation for how hard they work and the numbers of barriers they face in pursuing further education as adults.  They left with a greater understanding of the challenges of the teaching profession, but also of the great satisfaction it can bring.  Many of our students went out of their way to thank them for their help and this really brought it home to them that teachers have the ability to have a long lasting impact on the lives of their students. 

Hosting these students was a pleasure and a privilege.   It was a great opportunity to give back a little to the teaching profession and it was inspiring to see the quality of students who are choosing this as their career.  Most of all though, it was a gift – a gift of seeing our profession and our daily work through new eyes.  Those new eyes affirmed the value of what we do and reminded me of why we work as hard as we do. 

Student Teachers See Gratitude and a Desire to Succeed - Jason Wall

            As student teachers from the University of Calgary, the three of us did not know what to expect from our teaching practicums here at Bow Valley College. After spending a month in an adult learning facility, we have all learned a lot from this experience and are leaving with a unique perspective on the importance and joys of adult learning. 

            We had the opportunity to see the vast array of services provided to both staff and students over the course of our four weeks here. The three of us toured the Assistive Technology lab, the Art Stream program, the Aboriginal Centre, and received SmartBoard training from the Learner Success Services. It became obvious early on in our time here that Bow Valley College provides continuous support for their students both academically and individually.

Amongst the three of us, we were able to see a wide variety of modalities which we haven’t yet been exposed to as pre-service teachers. Our experiences included time in traditional classrooms, the Flex classroom, and real-time online classes. We spent most of our time in traditional/RTOL English classes, where we got to experience how adult learners engage in thought provoking and inclusive discussions. We were also able to spend plenty of time in the Flex classroom, specifically in the Math and English departments. It was amazing to see the wide variety of classes offered to the students. The self-directed learning present in the Flex classroom really allows students the freedom to work at their own pace while also getting the one on one time with their instructors that is sometimes difficult to receive in traditional classrooms. The Flex classroom itself fosters a calm and studious environment for students, one that as pre-service teachers we would strive to create in our future classrooms.

            One thing in particular that stood out during our experience here was the students’ gratitude. Every individual student that we have had the privilege of working with thanked us and made us feel welcome. It is obvious that the students at Bow Valley College have a desire to succeed and embrace the possibilities before them. It is with the guidance and support that is provided by instructors, administrators and support staff that allow these adult students to realize their potential. As pre-service teachers, it has been a privilege to spend the last four weeks amongst such dedicated individuals. We would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to everyone who made our experience here at Bow Valley College fulfilling and meaningful; in particular, we would like to thank our partner teachers Bev Kosior, Jeri Wylie-Smith, and Chris Taylor. We are walking away from this experience with a new lens through which we see teaching and learning.

Maham Baig, Claire McCann, & Jason Wall