We are pleased to be working in partnership with the Nuu-Chah-Nulth Tribal Council and the Vancouver Island West School District in co-creating the inaugural Rural and Remote Teacher Education program.
In the program, the Bachelor of Education Year 3 candidates will remain in their rural and remote communities while they study. There is no difference in how students complete practica and field experiences. All practica will be completed face-to-face and will be supervised by educators who are hired, trained and supervised by the Faculty of Education. Faculty of Education program coordinators and administration will support and maintain the program. The VIU admissions team will handle the admissions. Admissions will be congruent with acceptance processes offered to on campus students. Students who successfully complete the program will receive recommendation for a Certificate of Qualification as issued by the BC Ministry of Education and Child Care Teacher Regulation Branch.
Our goal for the program is to facilitate the development of teachers who
- centre Indigenous ways of knowing and being
- understand what it means to live, learn, teach and be in Nuu-Chah-Nulth territories
We are attempting to meet the challenges of recruiting teachers in remote areas. Through this work we also hope to support the school district to staff their schools. This will provide them with more educators who understand the complexities of working in Indigenous communities. We hope to empower teacher candidates who complete this program to become teachers with
- a strong sense of their own identity
- a deep understanding of the communities they serve,
- a commitment to transforming education for the future
Delivery of this program has approval by the BC Teachers’ Council.
Program overview
As a blended delivery program, the program runs over eight modules arranged in themes. Courses run primarily face-to-face. Roughly 30% of the total program will be online. Each term will also include an opportunity for the cohort to come together as a group. While completing coursework in home communities, students will take part in video conferences and small in-person gatherings.
Program summary
Streams
Ways of Knowing and Being in Nu cha nulth (NCN) Communities – Nuu chah nulth Language and Culture
Weaving in-class experiences with coursework – basics and teaching and learning in schools
Strong Literacy. Humanities and History Foundation
Knowledge of Children and assistive technologies and e-portfolio and tech
Integration of the Arts
Modules
- Introduction to Teaching and Learning in Nuu Chah Nulth territories
- Embedded Experiential Practicum and Coursework (Primary)
- Embedded Experiential Practicum and Coursework (Intermediate)
- Formative Practicum
- Experiential Practicum and Coursework (Remote or Secondary)
- Coursework
- Summative Practicum and Coursework (10-week practicum and 6 weeks of coursework)
- Optional Extension Semester