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