As the 2021 graduating class we have faced many obstacles throughout our two year Bachelor of Education Program at the University of Ottawa. Between work to rule, strike action and ongoing COVID -19 protocols and school closures our learning process has been hit with many obstacles. While some of us have been navigating online learning from the beginning, others are in the midst of trying to grapple with novel learning platforms. Throughout this time the academic expectations placed on us by the Education Program of the University of Ottawa have not wavered in the slightest. Even when the University of Ottawa allowed other faculty's an additional week of rest after the holidays due to the added stress and mental health struggles associated with online learning and COVID -19 our faculty was not included. We understand the reasoning behind this - we want to be in the classroom as much as possible too! However, we have the exact same academic workload as last year with the added burden of stresses related to the pandemic (finding childcare due to school closures, financial burdens, mental health stresses etc.). While we want to show resilience and adaptability through professionalism and grit, we are asking the Faculty of Education to show their support by allowing us some lenience.
We are asking that the Faculty of Education reconsider their requirement of the Research Action Project or modify their expectations to solely include a literature review. Finding opportunities to collect concrete data during class is difficult, especially with the time constraints of online learning. We do not want to burden our associate teachers by asking them to take up more of their precious teaching time to accommodate our University requirements. Rather, we would like to put our energy into assisting our associate teachers with the planning, implementation and evaluation of lessons for our practicum classes. In this way we can ensure that our students have the most productive 3 weeks of online learning possible!
We understand that research is an important aspect of education and our development as professional educators. However, we ask that some leniance be given due to these extraordinary circumstances. Please consider altering the requirement of or expectations associated with the Research Action Project to solely include a literature review.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Updates
January 12, 2021
The faculty is staying quiet but our momentum is building. Email the Dean today and tell them that we cannot maintain this workload while our lives remain in constant flux.
January 12, 2021
The administration is finally starting to pay attention because of the pressure you built. Post this link on Facebook right now and email your faculty representative to demand they meet with us.
16 Comments
Due to the constraints of COVID-19 and the intensity of the practicum schedule the past 6 weeks I have not had any time or opportunity to organize my action research project. It would be a huge help from the faculty if we could modify this expectation. Thank you for considering!
It is not only ourselves that are struggling. This is impacting the homes, the stay at home order is impacting the ATs own young and struggling children. They have stepped up to take on student teachers during a time when they have more pressure than any profession deserves. If we can lessen their stress by being assets, not burden in the classroom, I think this is a logical decision.
The faculty continually thanks us for our flexibility, it is time for them to step up and show that they too can be flexible and compassionate towards the teacher candidates.
Here are 2 possible areas of the assignment that could be removed: 1) "Suggests strategies that will enhance your professional practice." 2) "Lists resources that could extend one’s understanding of the inquiry."
Please reconsider the workload tasked to our faculty. We are learning the most through our placements but the numerous heavy assignments truly take away from being able to focus on our practicum experiences, on top of dealing with pandemic stresses.
We're under so much stress right now!
I agree.
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As the 2021 graduating class we have faced many obstacles throughout our two year Bachelor of Education Program at the University of Ottawa. Between work to rule, strike action and ongoing COVID -19 protocols and school closures our learning process has been hit with many obstacles. While some of us have been navigating online learning from the beginning, others are in the midst of trying to grapple with novel learning platforms. Throughout this time the academic expectations placed on us by the Education Program of the University of Ottawa have not wavered in the slightest. Even when the University of Ottawa allowed other faculty's an additional week of rest after the holidays due to the added stress and mental health struggles associated with online learning and COVID -19 our faculty was not included. We understand the reasoning behind this - we want to be in the classroom as much as possible too! However, we have the exact same academic workload as last year with the added burden of stresses related to the pandemic (finding childcare due to school closures, financial burdens, mental health stresses etc.). While we want to show resilience and adaptability through professionalism and grit, we are asking the Faculty of Education to show their support by allowing us some lenience.
We are asking that the Faculty of Education reconsider their requirement of the Research Action Project or modify their expectations to solely include a literature review. Finding opportunities to collect concrete data during class is difficult, especially with the time constraints of online learning. We do not want to burden our associate teachers by asking them to take up more of their precious teaching time to accommodate our University requirements. Rather, we would like to put our energy into assisting our associate teachers with the planning, implementation and evaluation of lessons for our practicum classes. In this way we can ensure that our students have the most productive 3 weeks of online learning possible!
We understand that research is an important aspect of education and our development as professional educators. However, we ask that some leniance be given due to these extraordinary circumstances. Please consider altering the requirement of or expectations associated with the Research Action Project to solely include a literature review.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Updates
January 12, 2021
The faculty is staying quiet but our momentum is building. Email the Dean today and tell them that we cannot maintain this workload while our lives remain in constant flux.
January 12, 2021
The administration is finally starting to pay attention because of the pressure you built. Post this link on Facebook right now and email your faculty representative to demand they meet with us.
16 Comments
Time would be more effectively spent in the classroom teaching where our concrete learning happens rather than constructing a literature review or assembling an unrealistsic research project due to Covid. Please consider that our learning circumstances as teacher candidates over the past year has been like NO other previous years due to Covid. Please allow us more time teaching rather than plaguing us with more writing.....
Due to the constraints of COVID-19 and the intensity of the practicum schedule the past 6 weeks I have not had any time or opportunity to organize my action research project. It would be a huge help from the faculty if we could modify this expectation. Thank you for considering!
It is not only ourselves that are struggling. This is impacting the homes, the stay at home order is impacting the ATs own young and struggling children. They have stepped up to take on student teachers during a time when they have more pressure than any profession deserves. If we can lessen their stress by being assets, not burden in the classroom, I think this is a logical decision.
The faculty continually thanks us for our flexibility, it is time for them to step up and show that they too can be flexible and compassionate towards the teacher candidates.
Here are 2 possible areas of the assignment that could be removed: 1) "Suggests strategies that will enhance your professional practice." 2) "Lists resources that could extend one’s understanding of the inquiry."
Please reconsider the workload tasked to our faculty. We are learning the most through our placements but the numerous heavy assignments truly take away from being able to focus on our practicum experiences, on top of dealing with pandemic stresses.
We're under so much stress right now!
I agree.
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Time would be more effectively spent in the classroom teaching where our concrete learning happens rather than constructing a literature review or assembling an unrealistsic research project due to Covid. Please consider that our learning circumstances as teacher candidates over the past year has been like NO other previous years due to Covid. Please allow us more time teaching rather than plaguing us with more writing.....