Alberta School Counsellor Spring 2022

Counsellor ALBERTA SCHOOL

Spring 2022

PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT #40934510A

Alberta University of the Arts creates bright futures Many new experiences for the Red Deer Polytechnic community EcoSchools Canada: Creating a path to further the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals

Counsellor In this issue ALBERTA SCHOOL

is published by DEL Communications Inc. Suite 300, 6 Roslyn Road Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada R3L 0G5 www.delcommunications.com President/Publisher DAVID LANGSTAFF

Alberta University of the Arts creates bright futures............................................ 4 Bringing the workplace to the learning place: Work-integrated learning at Lethbridge College...................................................... 6 Many new experiences for the Red Deer Polytechnic community.................................................................................. 8 Celebrating community.......................................................................................................10

Managing Editor CINDY CHAN cindy@delcommunications.com

Alberta’s forests: A place for students to grow......................................................12

Sales Manager DAYNA OULION

Spread your wings and fly high with Keyano College.........................................16

Advertising Account Executive ROSS JAMES

Sit your way to a healthy back.........................................................................................15 A job with a view....................................................................................................................18

..............................................................................

Northern Lakes College Dual Credit not just for high school students.................................................................................. 20

Production services provided by: S.G. Bennett Marketing Services

Improving workplace mental health.............................................................................21

Creative Director / Design KATHLEEN CABLE Cover photo courtesy of ALBERTA UNIVERSITY OF THE ARTS .............................................................................. © Copyright 2022, DEL Communications Inc. All rights reserved. The contents of this pub­lica­tion may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part, without prior written consent of the publisher.

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Privatization threatens Alberta’s world-class public school system................................................................................. 22 A well-rounded student experience............................................................................ 23 EcoSchools Canada: Creating a path to further the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals............................................................... 26 No stifling allowed in STEM............................................................................................. 28 Find the right heavy equipment operator training for you............................. 30 Robertson College introduces complementary learning to meet the needs of learners in a post-pandemic world.............................. 32 Index to advertisers.............................................................................................................. 34

Publications mail agreement #40934510 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: DEL Communications Inc. Suite 300, 6 Roslyn Road, Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada R3L 0G5 Email: david@delcommunications.com PRINTED IN CANADA 04/2022

Alberta School Counsellor / Spring 2022 3

Alberta University of the Arts creates bright futures Students learn by doing at Alberta’s innovative visual art university

I

t’s hard not to be inspired at Calgary’s Alberta University of the Arts (AUArts). Some of the most talented and prominent artists,

designers, and craftspeople around the world teach and mentor at this visual art post-secondary. Offering a unique education model, AUArts is the only dedicated art, craft, and design university in Alberta, and on the prairies.

The university offers Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Design, and Master of Fine Arts degrees in a wide variety

Submitted by the Alberta University of the Arts

of disciplines. Students may pursue degrees in Ceramics, Drawing, Fibre, Glass, Jewellery and Metals, Media Arts, Painting, Photography, Print Media,

4 Alberta School Counsellor / Spring 2022

Sculpture, and Visual Communication Design. The Visual Communication Design program has two streams: Character Design and Illustration, or Advertising and Graphic Design. A growing program of minors offers additional exciting pathways including Animation, Comics, and 3D Object Design and Fabrication.

The campus is built for experiential learning, with nearly 300,000 square feet of professionally equipped studio space.

Many programs also offer students their own individual studio space. Student skills and interests are developed alongside a talented community of emerging creatives. By nurturing

technical capabilities and enhancing critical thinking approaches, AUArts graduates are extremely versatile.

Small studio classes encourage collaboration and studio spaces are workshop-based. Students explore their own ideas while being supported by faculty and specialized technicians.

This innovative studio model provides students with approximately 70 per cent hands-on applied learning and 30 per cent liberal arts and theory. AUArts students receive a university education and learn practical workforce skills, equipping them for exciting creative careers after graduation. Graduates become illustrators, animators, cartoonists, painters, game designers, art therapists, curators, industrial designers and more. Whatever path a student chooses, the university’s inventive approach ensures they will become an important contributor to culture, society and the creative economy.

AUArts students learn critical thinking, communication, and collaboration –

changing the old academic narrative

General’s Awards. The tuition and

of STEM into STEAM by adding the

fees are among the least expensive

essential ‘A’ for ‘Arts’. It’s more than

of Canada’s art, craft, and design

being an artist or designer; it’s about

institutions, and it offers a wide variety

learning how to approach problems in

of entrance scholarships and awards for

new and innovative ways by instilling

new students. A popular gathering space

an entrepreneurial spirit. The university

is the Lodgepole Center, guided by an

appeals to students with big ideas,

Elders Council, providing an inclusive

ingenuity, and unique perspectives.

space for students, faculty, and staff.

AUArts has approximately 1,200

Additionally, out-of-town students are

students, and those who attend AUArts

welcome to live on-campus. AUArts

join a tight-knit interactive community.

has a student residence partnership

They are encouraged to build

with adjacent neighbour SAIT, and the

connections with peers and faculty in

convenient accommodation is only a

meaningful ways that are not supported

few minutes’ walk away from the front

in other learning environments. The

entrance.

studio-model ensures classes are small, on average faculty to student ratio in

Dedicated to thinking bigger about the

studio classes is 1:16.

importance of a visual art education,

Founded in 1926, AUArts has nearly 100 years of history devoted to education excellence. A post-secondary institution’s reputation stands on the

AUArts boldly educates in ways that test the boundaries of common thought. Join the counsellors and teachers mailing list to keep informed: myfuture@auarts.ca.

shoulders of its alumni and faculty, and

Learn more about AUArts, admissions

AUArts has 11 community members’

and the undergraduate and graduate

achievements honoured with Governor

programs by visiting AUArts.ca. n

Alberta School Counsellor / Spring 2022 5

Bringing the workplace to the learning place: Work-integrated learning at Lethbridge College

L

ong before it was called by the name ‘work-integrated learning (WIL)’, students at Lethbridge College have been gaining

In the current academic year, 95 per cent

shops. Wherever they end up, students

of Lethbridge College’s programs have

get the chance to put the theory and

a work-integrated learning opportunity

skills they learned in the classroom to

built into the curriculum. Those

the test in real-world settings.

the skills necessary to be successful

experiences look different for students

in the workplace through meaningful,

in every program. Nursing students

practice-based learning opportunities.

might choose to head to hospitals to

Whether that learning came through

put classroom theory into practice;

practicum experiences, internships,

future chefs might find themselves in

apprenticeships, applied research

some of the best restaurants in town

projects, or fieldwork, these hands-on

working and learning next to the pros;

experiences have been helping prepare

and interior design technology students

Goliana Rezk, a third-year student, spent

graduates to thrive in the working world

might have the opportunity to work in

fall 2021 working as a behaviour coach

for more than 60 years.

Lethbridge’s newest show homes and

for children for her WIL experience. She

6 Alberta School Counsellor / Spring 2022

The opportunity to learn in the workplace has made a real difference in the lives and learning experiences of business administration – management students in instructor Kelly Thompson’s human resource management class.

says it has taught her “how to be more patient, creative, and enthusiastic, and lastly how to communicate and talk with kids and give them the support and love they need.”

Second-year student Agape Santillan has been involved with two WIL experiences during her time at the college, both offered in partnership with Riipen, a Canadian technology platform that facilitates micro-experiential learning opportunities by connecting students to industry partners.

that way students know why they are learning the things they do, through example.”

WIL at Lethbridge College is designed into programs and courses where appropriate and beneficial. By integrating curricular learning into non-classroom settings, WIL allows students to build connections to the

professional workforce in their chosen field and bridges the gap between theory and the practical demands of the modern workplace. WIL supports the talent pipeline in Alberta, ensures students are fully prepared to “hit the ground running” once they graduate.

To learn more about WIL, go to www. lethbridgecollege.ca. n

“Both projects were extremely helpful for me in understanding the ins and outs of starting up a business,” Santillan says. “I got to work in groups, which was amazing because it was hands-on and gave me a feel of a professional business meeting. And I also acquired a recommendation letter from one of the businesses because they were pleased with my work and ideas.”

Ryan Lopez, a second-year student, is also working on a Riipen project and says, “One of the interesting things is the hands-on evaluation and feedback of the company that we are working with. It really can help you improve the project that we are working on and gives us valuable inputs on how we can be better at what we are doing.”

Second-year student Owen Deboer agrees. “Work-integrated learning really brings reality to school, a place that frequently becomes a bubble of its own.

Through Riipen and WIL, my eyes have been opened to a few things. Human resource management is so much more than I thought it was. The integrated work has shown me how to apply the things I have learned at college into the workplace, before I’ve entered the workplace. It’s incredibly important for post-secondary institutions to bring the workplace to the learning place – Alberta School Counsellor / Spring 2022 7

Many new experiences for the Red Deer Polytechnic community

T

his has been a momentous academic year at Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP), its first as a polytechnic institution.

During the 2021/2022 academic year, 6,200 full- and part-time students are benefiting from the Polytechnic’s diverse and growing program options.

This valuable breadth of programming in apprenticeships, certificates, diplomas, micro-credentials, collaborative degrees with partner post-secondary institutions, and degrees allows

recognizing the needs of students,

responsive, entrepreneurial, and

learners to pursue their academic goals

industry and community.

community-driven.

While staying true to its values

The updated brand is also reflected in

of proudly serving learners and

Red Deer Polytechnic’s new website

communities, Red Deer Polytechnic

at rdpolytech.ca, which houses

continues to dynamically grow

information about programming and

with the launch of its new brand.

student services. These services include

In October 2021, the Polytechnic’s

academic supports, counselling services,

leaders, government dignitaries, and

accessibility services, and academic

special guests virtually celebrated this

advising, among many others. At Red

In the fall 2021 term, students

important milestone as another exciting

Deer Polytechnic, faculty and staff are

participated in several programs for

chapter in the evolution of the post-

committed to helping learners achieve

the first time in the Polytechnic’s

secondary institution.

their educational and life goals.

The new brand incorporates updated

On the path of becoming a greener

visual aspects, such as a modern

campus, Red Deer Polytechnic received

logo, along with the foundation of its

national recognition for its ongoing

identity, which was created from input

sustainability efforts. The Polytechnic’s

of more than 600 central Albertans. As a

newest Residence has been named one

result of these consultations, Red Deer

of Canada’s Clean50 Top Project Award

The Polytechnic continues to evaluate

Polytechnic’s brand was formed that

(https://clean50.com) winners, and this

more program options in the future,

can be described as open, empowering,

project has been declared a Clean50

in central Alberta. Work-integrated learning opportunities, whether through practicums, participating in research, collaborating with peers in group projects, or other applied learning in the classroom is part of what learners can expect as part of their post-secondary studies at Red Deer Polytechnic.

history, including Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences, its own Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Bachelor of Science in Psychology, University Arts Diploma, and University Sciences Diploma.

8 Alberta School Counsellor / Spring 2022

Top Project for 2022. Home to 145 students, the modern facility offers an environmentally friendly place to live, study, and socialize.

The community continues to generously support Red Deer Polytechnic students in the pursuit of their career aspirations. In 2020, with help from a generous anonymous donor, the Polytechnic launched a campaign to raise $1,000,000 in bursary funding for students experiencing financial need. Through community donations, including gifts from the RDP Alumni Association and Students’ Association at Red Deer Polytechnic, the campaign

To help reduce financial barriers for

For more information about Red

has raised more than $50,000 to date.

students, the Polytechnic grants its

Deer Polytechnic’s range of programs,

As all donations to the Bursary are

learners more than $1.3 million in

services, and other areas of interest,

matched by the anonymous donor, this

awards and scholarships each year. A

please visit rdpolytech.ca. n

community support has so far created

list of Red Deer Polytechnic’s awards

more than $100,000 in bursaries for

and scholarships can be viewed at

students.

rdpolytech.ca/scholarships.

Real impact.

Right here.

Central Alberta isn’t just home to great minds. It’s also home to great opportunity. Here, an innovative campus, diverse programming and local industry connections will help you transform your future, and your community.

Make your impact at RDPolytech.ca/here

Erin Boake Visual Artist & Teacher, Red Deer Graduate

Alberta School Counsellor / Spring 2022 9

CELEBRATING

COMMUNITY

By Paula Wischoff Yerama, CCDP, Executive Director, Career Development Association of Alberta (CDAA)

T

he CDAA celebrates 25 years of service to career development practitioners and the career development

Please mark your calendars and save the date for ACDC 2022: Tuesday, May 3 and Wednesday, May 4, 2022. Calls for keynote presenters, concurrent session

community in 2022. It feels like

presenters, and exhibitors will soon be

just yesterday we were celebrating

available as well as early registration.

20 years at ACDC (Alberta Career

Visit https//www.careerdevelopment.

Development Conference) 2017 with a

ab.ca/ for conference details and

gala celebration! In mid-2021, there was

registration information.

a great deal of hope and optimism that we would be celebrating, in person, in 2022. As the year went on and as the calendar turned from 2021 to 2022, it became clear that an in-person event would not be possible.

For 25 years, the CDAA has been “a recognized leader that advances the career development profession through strategic outreach and partnership activities and provides services and supports to aspiring and practicing

Today, however, we are planning

career development professionals”.

for an exciting virtual celebration

From being the first province to

and activities throughout the year

develop and launch voluntary

to acknowledge and celebrate 25

certification for career development

years of community. Twenty-fifth

practitioners by way of the Certified

anniversary activities are being planned

Career Development Professional

for the eighth annual Alberta Career

(CCDP) designation, to being a founding

Development Conference, which will

member of what is now known as

be held virtually on May 3 and 4, 2022.

the Canadian Council for Career

Additional anniversary activities and

Development (3CD), to being involved

celebrations will be planned throughout

in the Supporting Canadians to Navigate

the year.

Learning and Work project, the CDAA

10 Alberta School Counsellor / Spring 2022

has been a prominent organization in the career development community.

SUPPORTING CANADIANS TO NAVIGATE LEARNING AND WORK – PROJECT UPDATE The CDAA has been proud to support the Canadian Career Development Foundation (CCDF) with the Supporting Canadians to Navigate Learning and Work project. In October 2021, a funding proposal to ESDC’s Sectoral Initiatives Program (SIP) focusing on the critical transition from certification program development to certification program implementation was submitted. On December 17, 2021, the CCDF provided an update that the proposal to implement national certification had not been approved.

Despite this news they are actively exploring other possibilities that have been suggested.

On a brighter note, the bilingual and public Code of Ethics for Career Development Professionals, with special thanks to the team at AXTRA

Career development professionals have a responsibility to themselves, to their clients, and to the field of career development. The purpose of this Code of Ethics is to provide professional boundaries and practical directives for professional behaviour and practice for those who offer services in career development. The seven sections and 60 articles in the Code of Ethics are intended to be combined with each other to address the multiple diverse and contextualized situations that CDPs face in their daily delivery of career development services.

The new Code of Ethics is intended as a platform for the Canadian Competencies for Career Development Professionals. It is designed to reflect the breadth and depth of the field as an essential component of the national competencies.

In addition to the articles within this Code of Ethics, career development professionals must engage actively in the process of ethical decision-making.

To assist professionals in this activity, a series of ethical decision-making models are provided within the text.

The Code of Ethics was developed and updated from the Canadian Standards and Guidelines for Career Development Professionals Code of Ethics (2004) in combination with the Pan-Canadian Competency Framework for Career Development Professionals (2021). Special appreciation is extended to the Canadian Career Development Foundation, and the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association for their exemplary collaboration to create this document.

You can find, access, download and share the new Code of Ethics at

The new Code of Ethics is intended as a platform for the Canadian Competencies for Career Development Professionals. https://ccdp-pcdc.ca (EN) and https://pcdc-ccdp.ca (FR).

The CDAA will continue to share updates and information related to the project and the work that remains to be done. We are very excited for what this all means for our profession!

Several times a year we reach out to our community for their input on various topics. Most recently the following questions were posed: •W hat organizations, events, or resources related to diversity, equity, and inclusion have you found to be particularly helpful in supporting your clients, colleagues, and communities?

•W hat sources of labour market information have been most beneficial to you in supporting your clients?

Where have your clients been finding success in the labour market?

•A s the career development profession

continues to move toward a national certification program for career development professionals, what questions around national certification are coming up for you?

• As the career development profession prepares to launch the Career Development Professional National Competency Framework, what are you most looking forward to and how do you hope to be able to incorporate the new framework into your own career development?

• What personal or professional development goals have you set for yourself for 2022?

If you have anything you would like to share in response to our community collaboration questions. please feel free to email Paula Wischoff Yerama at ed@careerdevelopment.ab.ca with “community collaboration” in the subject line. n

In it’s 25th year, the Career Development Association of Alberta is proud to present:

cdaa Career Development Association of Alberta

The Alberta Career Development Conference 2022

ACDC

2022

for overseeing the translation of this incredible document, was published at the end of October 2021!

World-Class Keynote Speakers | Industry Recognized Exhibitors Concurrent Sessions | Expert Panel Presentations | Consultation Sessions

Presented Virtually: Tuesday and Wednesday, May 3 and 4, 2022 info and registration: careerdevelopment.ab.ca/ACDC

Alberta School Counsellor / Spring 2022 11

ALBERTA’S FORESTS: A place for students to grow

By Emma Kniel

I

n Alberta, the word “forestry” often

wide labour shortage. The campaign

systems, robust wildlife habitats, natural

evokes specific images: lumberjacks,

informs youth on sustainable forest

forest disturbances, and prosperous

plaid, chainsaws, and large logging

management practices and provides

communities. These experts have a deep

equipment. What is often missed

resources on the variety of rewarding

understanding of how our ecosystems

are the countless other pieces to one

career opportunities in Alberta’s forest

work and dedicate their lives to our

of Alberta’s largest resource industries.

industry.

forests’ care. Not quite the stereotypical

Currently, the forest industry is a massive source of career opportunities for youth.

Before any harvesting happens in

lumberjack!

Alberta, professionals must create

During the Work Wild program’s

complex management plans, which span

inception, it was clear that additional

The Alberta Forest Products Association

200 years into the future. These plans

misconceptions were surrounding

launched the Work Wild campaign

do not just account for wood supply;

the industry. Many students believed

in 2011 in response to an industry-

they must also plan for healthy water

forestry jobs were low-tech, and there

12 Alberta School Counsellor / Spring 2022

OVER OUR NEW RESOURCES

Bring the forest to your classroom We may be going out on a limb here… but today’s students and teachers are looking for engaging and interactive learning experiences.

See how Work Wild makes forests, sustainability, and career planning come alive! Check out our curriculum-supporting resources.

Book a classroom presentation: info@workwild.ca

Even wood products themselves are being innovated and are used far more in our daily lives than ever before.

a trip back in Alberta’s history with a forest-use timeline to see how land management has changed over 100 years. Learn how diverse our forest landscape is and how human impacts

was no innovation keeping the sector

We should not solely present careers

and natural disturbances create these

relevant. However, this is not the case.

in this sector to outdoor enthusiasts or

variations with an interactive map. Or

Technology is being utilized from the

students within forestry communities.

deep-dive into the balance forestry

initial planning, including computer

While there are many options for those

professionals must create between

models equipped with artificial

students, roles in technology, sciences,

forests and society with an infographic.

intelligence and drones to monitor

and the trades are just as vast. One of

If your students want to discover even

hazardous or inaccessible forest areas

the largest demographic changes seen in

more about these opportunities and

through high-efficiency mills that have

post-secondary forestry programs over

how they can plan their future career

virtually eliminated waste from milling.

the past 10 years has been a dramatic

path, Work Wild also offers free of cost

increase in female applicants from urban

presentations with one of our forestry

centres.

educators. Bring the forest directly to

Even wood products themselves are being innovated and are used far more

your classroom!

in our daily lives than ever before. Of

Work Wild has three toolkits available

course, we use lumber in our homes and

online to help share these opportunities

To view these resources, book a

paper at work, but even the food you

with your students in Grade 6 Science,

presentation, or learn more about

eat, clothing you wear, and so much

CALM 20, and CTS Forestry. These

Alberta’s forests and current career

more are made from wood products.

toolkits come complete with fully

opportunities, please visit workwild.

Did you know the toothpaste you use

laid out lesson plans and interactive

ca or reach out to the team directly at

daily is often made with wood pulp?

resources for students to explore. Take

info@workwild.ca. n

14 Alberta School Counsellor / Spring 2022

Sit your way to a healthy back

I

f you spend a lot of time in a chair

Good posture is helpful when driving,

from the wheel. Sit straight and upright

for work, you may want to think

at the movie theatre, on the couch, or

with both hands on the wheel with

about your posture. Slouching

even out at a restaurant. Here are some

your arms in a slightly flexed but

while sitting can cause short- and

tips and exercises to help you sit your

comfortable position. Remember that

way to a healthy back:

lumbar roller? It works great here too.

long-term back problems, but you don’t need expensive gizmos and gadgets to fix the problem.

• Place a lumbar/foam roller in the curve of your back while you sit. Don’t

If you’re sitting for a long time during

have a roller? A small pillow or rolled

the day, you may be noticing tightness

up towel works great.

and back pain. Slouching puts stress on your lower back. Slumping or slouching

• Ensure your chair is low enough to

If your seat is angled back away from the steering wheel, create a horizontal surface using a travel cushion or triangle foam wedge.

• Set breaks for yourself to get up and

allow you to place both feet flat on

move around a bit if you’ve been

the floor, with your knees slightly

sitting for a long time. Do some quick

but after the back has been strained

lower than your hips. If you are

stretches to loosen up your back

or injured, bad posture can make

unable to set your chair lower, use a

before sitting again.

pain worse. When you sit, keep your

small footstool or even a book as a

shoulders back, keeping a slight curve in

footstool to raise your knees.

on its own may not cause low back pain,

your lower back.

• When driving, ensure your knees

As always, talk to your doctor or physiotherapist if your back pain is more persistent or doesn’t improve with

There are many ways to improve your

are nearly level with your hips by

posture. A healthy back is a happy back

sitting posture, not just while working.

adjusting your seat closer or further

– and a happy you! n Alberta School Counsellor / Spring 2022 15

Spread your wings and fly high with Keyano College

O

ver the next 10 years, there is expected to a need for over 260,000 new pilots to enter the industry, due to retirement, attrition, and post-COVID recovery demand.

Keyano College, based in Fort McMurray, is meeting this demand in a unique way: students can earn their commercial and private pilot’s licence, as well as a business diploma with absolutely no previous training.

The program Keyano’s program is a cut above the rest, as it doesn’t require any previous training or qualifications; you can start having never set foot into a cockpit. Most programs in Canada require students to have taken basic flight theory and hold their private pilot’s license; this can set students back around $20,000 before they have even started. With Keyano’s Business Aviation program, this is all included.

16 Alberta School Counsellor / Spring 2022

Many similar programs require students to complete the programs separately, which incurs additional cost, but this is where the Keyano program stands out.

Students who complete this program leave with their commercial and private pilot’s licence and a business diploma, so graduates are well-equipped to start their career as a pilot or explore aviation business operations.

Based on statistics, the number of female

In addition to the pilot’s licences and training, the program also offers a business diploma specialized for graduates who want to pursue career specializations in northern aviation operations or airline operations.

has developed a reputation for offering

The future of aviation With the post-COVID world expected to experience a travel boom, the industry is crying out for pilots and graduating with a business diploma gives students flexibility. This program is open for fall registration, and the College is hoping to see an increase in female applicants.

pilots and co-pilots has been steadily rising in Canada, and Keyano hopes to see more women graduate from the program.

McMurray Aviation The College has partnered with local flight academy, McMurray Aviation, based in Fort McMurray, to deliver the flight training. Over the past years, McMurray quality instruction, a friendly atmosphere, and a good value as a flight training academy which benefits our students.

The flight training is set in a unique environment, where students not only get the experience of bush flying but also the busy atmosphere of a high-density airport.

We have years of experience teaching pilots, managing an aviation company, and, of course, thousands of hours of flying. n

EST 1984

gh in t Train

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AVIATION

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BUSINESS

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Diploma

Earn your PILOT’S LICENCE AND

BUSINESS DIPLOMA at Keyano College Find what you want at KEYANO.CA

A job with a view

By Karen Rutherford, Executive Director, ARCA

W

hen you arrived at work this morning, did you wonder who put the roof on your school?

Sometimes, great opportunities are missed because they are out of site. A notable

example of that is a career in commercial roofing!

Today we would like you to take a minute and consider the opportunities for your students.

All institutional-commercial-industrial (ICI) buildings need highly qualified journeyman roofers to create a building that is protected against the elements. In addition to becoming a recognized journeyman, there are many other careers in roofing, some which require physical work, while many do not.

There are inspectors, technical representatives, manufacturer’s marketing representatives, and actual roofers. Workers in this industry can achieve a Red Seal Journeymen ticket ensuring they will have year-round work and enviable salaries.

Journeymen can earn more than $100,000 per year and work opportunities consistently exist across this country.

Not everyone wants to work at a desk in or be confined to tiny little rooms like family doctors! A life working outside comes with incredible health benefits. In a recent study the following was determined: There are 10 specific health benefits to a work life that includes considerable time outdoors.

18 Alberta School Counsellor / Spring 2022

1. Twelve per cent reduction in the levels of cortisol, the stress hormone that wakes many people in the middle of the night, because of physical movement throughout the day.

2. Risk of increased blood pressure reduced by nine per cent.

(Better than monitoring cholesterol and taking medications.)

3. Working outdoors can lower mortality risk of disease by 12 per cent.

4. Outdoor light is 166 times stronger than indoor lighting and prevents seasonal depression.

5. T wenty minutes of work in the open air produces the same energy boost as a cup of coffee!

6. Outdoor air is 10 times less toxic that indoor air.

7. B reathing outdoor air can improve white blood cell count for up to a month.

8. Exposure to natural light, rather than indoor lighting, can increase nightly sleep by 45 minutes.

9. Natural access to vitamin D, which is critical in immune function.

10. Outside workers burn on average 444 calories more per hour than indoor workers.

For many students, the opportunity to work in a team environment, be outside, have the variety of a different work address every week, earn great money, year-round work, and the opportunity to work in any province in Canada is a great option.

Telus Spark, Skyline Calgary, Calgary, AB.

For students and parents, the opportunity to be debt-free following your postsecondary education is another great benefit of trades training. Employers in the field of commercial roofing normally pay the tuition for their apprentices and the government provides numerous grants to ensure apprentices do not accumulate any debt on completion of their education.

Individuals who enjoy team sports often thrive in a work team environment. I am told often by journeymen that working collaboratively every day is a great feeling, knowing some one has your back and knowing you can be trusted to be there for your colleagues. Those are not comments one gets from co-workers in many other types of occupations and professions.

If you would like to know more about the trade options for your students, please reach out at www.roofingcareers.ca. There are so many opportunities available, we want to ensure you have all the information you need to provide an informed opportunity to your students. n

Lynwood Roofing, Fifth Avenue Place, Calgary, AB.

TAKE YOUR CAREER TO NEW HEIGHTS

INDUSTRY GROWTH YEAR OVER YEAR

FAST CAREER ADVANCEMENT

PAID TRAINING AND EDUCATION

ENDLESS CAREER PATHS

TOP WAGES= THE COMMERCIAL ROOFING INDUSTRY IN ALBERTA NEEDS SKILLED LABOUR NOW! for more info visit:

www.roofingcareers.ca Alberta School Counsellor / Spring 2022 19

Northern Lakes College Dual Credit not just for high school students

disappointed, thinking she wouldn’t

super-supportive, and really fun to see

be eligible to enrol. When she learned

my virtual classmates congratulated at

that students were welcome to join the

the online convocation,” she enthuses.

program regardless of their graduation status, as long as they were under the age of 20, she was thrilled.

The online experience benefited Dejong in unexpected ways. Once familiar with online learning, she soon

Dejong explains, “A big reason why I

found she was confident with online

hadn’t pursued college was because

job interviews, too. She secured a job

I didn’t want to leave my hometown.

working in a sixth-grade classroom in

Jenessa Dejong wasn’t looking to enrol

When I learned I could become an

southern Alberta. She also plans to

in a college program when she first

educational assistant through NLC at

coach volleyball on a volunteer basis

learned about Dual Credit programming

Barrhead Outreach School, I was like,

in her new community. She says, “I

at Northern Lakes College (NLC).

‘Sweet! Cool!’ I was even able to work

come from a small community with a

full-time while I studied. I worked at “I hadn’t really been thinking about my

parent-run school. My mom and dad

a construction company painting and

education, but showed up to a meeting

were always helping out at the school,

helping with construction, and the

about program options on a whim

fixing up things and catering fundraisers.

whole experience was lots of fun!”

Seeing them as leaders showed me a

because my twin sister was interested in becoming a health care aide. A pamphlet

She planned to complete most of the

the presenter gave out mentioned the

program remotely, so the educational

Educational Assistant program, and I was

experience was seamless, even as

really interested in that,” Dejong says.

the COVID-19 pandemic upset the

However, the Education Assistant program was only being offered as part of the Dual Credit program in Barrhead, Dejong’s hometown. The Dual Credit program is traditionally offered to high school students, as a way to earn credits towards a high school diploma

rest of the world’s routine. Despite the geographical distance between her and the other students, Dejong became active on the Northern Lakes College Student Association and felt as though she got to know her instructors personally.

great example as what it means to be a volunteer.”

In the future, Dejong may consider pursuing an education degree but, for now, she’s happy to simply impart advice for prospective NLC students: “I didn’t think I would go to postsecondary school because I hadn’t graduated as an all-star student. My advice to other students would be no matter what your high school marks

while also studying for a post-secondary

“The other students and I were really

look like, if you’re passionate about

program. As Dejong had graduated high

interactive, responding to posts and

your future and willing to work for it,

school the year before, she was initially

collaborating on projects online. It was

anything is possible! Go for it!” n

20 Alberta School Counsellor / Spring 2022

Improving workplace mental health Submitted by the Canadian Mental Health Association, Alberta Division

W

orking is an important part of a person’s mental well-being because it provides people the opportunity to feel productive and contribute to their community. Responsible employers provide a physically safe environment for employees — but what about their psychological safety? Every workplace has psychological risks that impact the productivity, turnover and economic costs to their organization.

Workplaces can be stressful and contribute to mental health problems and illnesses. Adults in Alberta spend more of their waking hours at work than anywhere else, which is why organizations addressing mental health at work is so important (Mental Health Commission of Canada, 2021). According to the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC), 70 per cent of Canadian employees are concerned about the psychological health and safety of their workplace, and about 30 per cent of short- and long-term disability claims are attributed to mental health problems and illnesses (2021). For the Canadian economy, those statistics account for a staggering cost of $50 billion annually.

Supporting employee mental health can improve productivity, cut down on absences, and increase employee retention. It can be a complex task, but the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), Alberta Division is here to

help. For more than 60 years, CMHA in Alberta has focused on recovery and support for Albertans impacted by mental illness. The organization stands with Albertans within their communities as they achieve their wellness goals.

CMHA works to increase and enhance individuals’, groups’ and communities’ control over their mental health.

Whether you work in health care, hospitality, construction, trades, public service, finance, law, education, non-profit, union work, community organizing, consulting, or anywhere in between, CMHA, Alberta Division has a suite of workplace mental health training opportunities to assist your organization with becoming a psychologically healthy and more productive place to work.

CMHA workplace mental health training opportunities include: •W orking Stronger Workplace Mental Health Conference – An annual workplace mental health conference designed to improve employee mental health in Alberta workplaces. Working Stronger features keynote speakers, workshops, panels, presentations, training opportunities and exhibits.

•C ertified Psychological Health and Safety Training – For individuals who want to help organizations improve psychological health and safety in their workplaces. This certification has been developed to provide an experiential learning opportunity

for participants so they can better support organizations of all sizes.

• Leading with Mental Health in Mind Workshop – Equip formal and informal leaders with the language to talk about mental health, the understanding to support employees with challenges and the steps to move towards greater psychological health and safety in the workplace.

• Mental Health Keynote Presentation – A high-level, basic introduction to workplace mental health. It provides employers and employees with tools and resources for mental health awareness and responses to common mental health issues.

• Compassion Fatigue Training – Allows participants to be able to recognize the symptoms and effects of compassion fatigue, manage stress in a more effective way and create a personal self-care plan.

• Mental Health and the Workplace Training – Provides organizations with the language to talk about mental health, the understanding to support employees with challenges, and the steps to move towards greater psychological health and safety in the workplace.

If you are interested in learning more about workplace training opportunities visit workingstronger.cmha.ca for more information. n Alberta School Counsellor / Spring 2022 21

Privatization threatens Alberta’s world-class public school system

By Heather Ganshorn, Research Director, Support Our Students Alberta elected boards, being accountable directly to the Minister of Education. New charter schools are taking over supposedly “under-utilized” schools within the public system.

I

December 2021 Rally for Public Education in Calgary.

n the past two years, two major issues have dominated the attention of most people engaged in public education: the impact of COVID-19 on schools, and the UCP government’s draft K-6 curriculum. My organization, Support Our Students (SOS) Alberta, has been active on both of these issues, working with the Albertans Reject the Curriculum Draft Facebook group to raise awareness of the problems with the draft curriculum, an issue I discussed in a previous article.

We have also been actively advocating for safe schools during COVID. When the government did not share information on case counts in schools last year, we started a school case tracker to help the public understand what was happening in schools. Our communications director, Wing Li, also contributes to the COVID briefings offered by Protect Our Province Alberta.

We continue to work on these issues, but as an organization that advocates for equitable, inclusive public education, we are also concerned that the current government is advancing a privatization agenda while the public is distracted by issues related to the pandemic.

In 2019, the UCP government passed The Education Amendment Act, which removed the cap on charter schools.

Then in 2020 they passed the Choice in Education Act which removed the requirement that groups first apply to local boards to establish alternative programs. Now, interested charter groups apply directly to the Minister of Education, and the details of those applications are not made public. Charter schools are funded by the province at the same level as public schools, but operate outside of the governance of publicly 22 Alberta School Counsellor / Spring 2022

In Calgary, École St. Gerard was closed, and its premises taken over by the STEM Innovation Academy charter school. As other public schools are monitored for potential closure in the face of low utilization, local parents worry that charter schools will move into these sites and market themselves to area parents, drawing students away and putting neighbouring public schools at greater risk of low enrolment.

In Calmar, an agriculture-focused charter school opened in a former Black Gold School Division school that the board closed due to low enrolment. Charter schools don’t magically generate more students; for the school to be viable it will presumably need to market to families in nearby communities, which could lower the enrolment in other nearby public schools.

While public schools are forced to deal with static or even declining budgets, private schools continue to receive the highest government subsidies in the country, with 70 per cent of the per-student funding that would be allocated to a student in the public system being transferred to the private schools chosen by those students’ parents. This is essentially a subsidy for businesses that cater to wealthy families.

SOS has long been concerned that public funding of charter and private schools erodes public education, drawing away students and their associated funding while leaving public boards with fixed operating costs, and the requirement to serve a higher proportion of special needs students, since charter schools tend to market to highly educated families, and may present barriers that make them difficult for lower-income families to access.

There is only one pot of money, and it is spent most fairly and effectively when it is pooled for the needs of all, not divided up to support a menu of boutique options under the guise of “parent choice”. We have only to look to the erosion of public education in the U.S. due to public funds being redirected to various private options to see where this path leads. Let’s demand better for all our kids. n

A well-rounded student experience There are many opportunities for students to boost their skills and confidence at the Alberta School of Business

W

hen Bri Thompson was in her first year in the Alberta School of Business, she signed up as a cohort representative with the Business Students’ Association (BSA).

She didn’t know it at the time, but that experience was the best decision she could have made and set in motion the trajectory

Bianca Dumonceaux.

of her undergraduate student experience.

“Everyone’s probably heard it a million times, but being involved in the faculty makes your experience,” said Thompson, fourthyear strategy, entrepreneurship and management student and current president of the BSA.

Bri Thompson.

Alberta School Counsellor / Spring 2022 23

Building a safe and supportive community for Indigenous students and raising awareness about Indigenous representation within the business industry.

“My cohort became my community; they were a group of people that would always applaud and hype me up.”

The BSA represents students’ needs and advocates for those needs by creating a strong community with services ranging from wellness and mental health to academic services and mentorship.

To support the school’s commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity (EDI) as president, Thompson said she’ll hold faculty accountable as community leaders and role models and mandate anti-racism and anti-bias training for club executives (Thompson was involved in implementing the training for the first time last year).

“I always knew that I wanted to be president because I’m really passionate about advocating for grassroots (in this case, grassroots being the students) and leading and creating a team that I would want to be a part of,” said Thompson.

Indigenous Business Students Association As the newest club in the Alberta School of Business, Madeleine Durocher and Bianca Dumonceaux, co-chairs and co-founders of the Indigenous Business Students Association (IBSA) know what they want to accomplish this year.

At the forefront of that list? Building a safe and supportive community for Indigenous students and raising awareness about Indigenous representation within the business industry.

“We want to raise awareness that business is an added postsecondary option for Indigenous youth to consider and want to encourage more Indigenous youth to apply, and in turn, increase representation,” said Dumonceaux.

Durocher and Dumonceaux, who identify as Métis and Cree respectively, were approached last year by Michelle Inness, the assistant dean of EDI, on ways to address issues of representation among Indigenous students within the school.

24 Alberta School Counsellor / Spring 2022

Madeleine Durocher.

“The Indigenous communities are quite marginalized and it would be really great to bridge that gap and create a decolonization approach where Indigenous peoples are able to share their ways of doing business,” said Durocher.

The association isn’t exclusive to Indigenous students — it’s also valuable for the broader business community to learn from Indigenous business leaders and think critically about other people’s perspectives and experiences.

Offering direct admission from high school Last year, the University of Alberta’s Academic Planning Committee approved the School of Business’ proposal to introduce direct high school entry to the bachelor of commerce degree program starting in fall 2022.

Moving to direct admission allows the School of Business to more effectively compete with other top-ranked undergraduate business programs and reduces a student’s uncertainty about their admission to the business school.

“Having business students in the business program from day one is really important to us, especially given the school’s commitment to EDI and our understanding of how critical it is to retention and academic success to build an early relationship with students from historically underrepresented groups,” said Leo Wong, associate dean of the undergraduate office.

Wong notes that direct admission will also allow faculty and staff to interact and support students earlier in their academic career, from course completion and mental health support to career counselling and experiential learning opportunities through the school’s career services and co-operative education programs.

Visit uab.ca/WhyBCom for more information on the University of Alberta bachelor of commerce program. n

EcoSchools Canada: Creating a path to further the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals

L

earning about the importance of environmental protection and stewardship has become a pressing issue for school communities in Alberta and across Canada. Thanks to the EcoSchools certification program, measuring and understanding a school’s environmental impacts is more accessible than ever before.

student-led initiatives such as walking to

features is its Impact section, where

school, bringing a waste-free lunch, and

schools can view the differences

conserving water. By completing these

their actions are having on their

actions, schools earn points towards

environmental footprints through

a certification level from Bronze to

nine key metrics like energy and water

Platinum. Certifications are guided by

use, waste diversion rates, hours of

a standard used by 77 countries in the

outdoor learning achieved, student

global EcoSchools network.

leaders engaged, and measuring carbon

In the 2020-21 school year, EcoSchools Canada rolled out the EcoSchools

The EcoSchools program is a bilingual environmental education certification framework for K-12 schools in Canada, and is available free of charge to publicly funded schools. Each year, schools create environmental action plans made up of curriculum-linked, 26 Alberta School Counsellor / Spring 2022

Certification Application (ECA), a new online platform in which schools register, build their action plan from a library of 45-plus actions, and track their progress toward certification.

One of the ECA’s most powerful

pollution. A comprehensive overview of how these metrics were selected and calculated is available in the report Connecting EcoSchools Actions to Greenhouse Gas Emissions (available at ecoschools.ca). Available to schools year over year, these metrics enable them to track and monitor their progress over time.

The ECA also serves to create a community of students and educators by allowing individual users to view the collective impact of these nine metrics for all participating EcoSchools across Canada. This connection to other educational communities supports a deeper understanding of how climate literacy can build behaviours toward protecting the environment.

School participants in the EcoSchools program are also contributing to Canada’s climate targets for achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted by the federal government in 2015 as all 45-plus actions in the program are connected to the SDGs. Published in January 2022, Furthering Sustainable Development Goals with EcoSchools Canada (available at ecoschools.

ca) reports the progress that the program and its participants have made in achieving the SDGs. Currently, the program strongly supports five SDGs, with emerging connections to an additional six. The report also emphasizes the program’s ability to amplify students’ and educators’ work, and support curriculum activities already in place. Where SDGs provide a clear path towards a more climateresilient future, the EcoSchools program provides the tools to support school communities in achieving their goals.

In Alberta, a key driver of program uptake and success has been partnering with the Alberta Council for Environmental Education (ACEE). As a well-established organization in the province, ACEE is a strong advocate for sustainability education and has

Participating in the EcoSchools program can create positive, lasting impacts in your school community.

supported students and educators in pursuing EcoSchools certification.

Despite the challenges of the pandemic, the 2020-21 school year was a dynamic one for environmental education, seeing 40 schools in Calgary alone register for the program, three of which achieved top tier Platinum status in their first year. All participating schools in Alberta logged a collective 142 completed environmental actions, over 4,800 hours of outdoor learning, and planted 657 trees. As the EcoSchools program continues to engage students in Alberta, ACEE will play a critical role in supporting school communities to achieve their climate goals.

Participating in the EcoSchools program can create positive, lasting impacts in your school community.

For more information on how to get started with the EcoSchools program, visit ecoschools.ca. Alberta schools are also encouraged to connect with ACEE at abcee.org for region-specific opportunities. Begin building your school’s sustainable future by joining the EcoSchools movement today. n Alberta School Counsellor / Spring 2022 27

No stifling allowed in STEM

By Judy Arnall

S

omeone posed this question to me the other day: “My daughter is showing increased interest in math and science.

Should I enrol her in STEM day camps, after-school classes, or extracurricular activities geared to STEM in order to continue her education?” That got me thinking: do children really need to be taught STEM learning, and do formal classes in STEM help or hurt children’s curiosity and creativity, two traits that are essential for exploration in STEM careers? Having five children interested in learning about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, I believe that STEM classes are OK as long as 28 Alberta School Counsellor / Spring 2022

they are fun and open-ended. However, they are a “nice-to-have,” not a “needto-have” learning experience. Children do not need formal classes or activities to further their interest and learning in STEM.

knowledge of the sound oscillations in

When my son was two years old, he loved those metal-coiled, rubber-tipped doorstoppers that went “twaaaannggg”.

He would play with them while lying on his belly on the cold floor, and the sound drove us crazy, because he would do it repeatedly. He needed to reinforce those learning pathways in his brain, and he was accumulating experience of the door-stopper workings, so that 20 years later, he would have first-hand

experimentation is allowed so that

his electrical engineering class when he had to do the paper calculations.

If parents are going to enrol children in formal STEM classes, they need to research how much free rein and their interests are not stunted. Not all children take instruction well. Some children just want to follow their own agenda and experiment with their own materials and ideas.

Many of the extracurricular classes are just like “more school.” I was having a discussion yesterday with my engineering son and he said the one

If parents are going to enrol children in formal STEM classes, they need to research how much free rein and experimentation is allowed so that their interests are not stunted. element that helped further his interest in STEM was having the “control.” In STEM classes, the control is not with the students; it is with the teacher. To experiment, one needs to have the control to manipulate things, make hypotheses and plans, and especially carry out plan B. Lack of control is a big turnoff, and kids take back control by losing interest in formal, structured, and planned outcome classes.

As well, most classes are geared to under-aged kids and liability issues will limit all the cool stuff that kids want to do. In school, the most my kids ever did in science was experiments with baking soda and vinegar. Boring. Parents at home can accept the liability and their kids can do much more under their supervision.

Instead of prescribed classes, here some fun, low-cost yet great ideas parents can embrace to further their children’s interest and learning in STEM: 1. Say “yes!” as much as possible. If she wants to build a messy volcano, say yes. If she wants to take apart appliances or take the lid off the toilet to see how it all works, say yes. If she wants to attend a Maker Faire, take her. If she wants to open up a potion shop in your kitchen, say yes. If she has seven train sets and wants more, get her more. If she wants to set up a workshop in your garage, say yes. If she wants yet another science or building kit, say yes.

2. Buys lots of Lego, K’Nex, Meccano, and blocks. Let him combine toys.

Nullify your need to sort and categorize. If he wants to put the playdough in sand or water to

see what would happen, let him experiment.

3. E mpower her to spend as much time on computer as possible. Kids need to play video games in order to learn how to code them. Don’t limit screen time. Getting to know a computer and what all that software can do takes time.

4. Take him to science centres, zoos, and aquariums all over the world when you travel. Buy seasons passes to the local ones so he can go as often as possible.

5. Never shut down a question. Model “let’s find out!” and take the time to help her get what she needs to find out.

6. Host special interest clubs at your home. Minecraft club, coding club, or a Beakerhead project, or First Lego League project can provide peer knowledge, fun, and social time as well as incredible learning from peers.

7. Take her to kids’ project days at building supply stores. Many are offered for free. Be sure to back off – let her build the project! Hammering in nails crooked is a great moment in learning physics and should not be taken over by the parent. STEM education embraces mistakes, not avoids them. Perfection is not part of STEM; the learning is in the process.

The only thing you have to practise with kids in your parenting is problemsolving, because the world of STEM is all about creatively solving problems. This may involve risk and mess, but it is free and has unlimited possibilities. Don’t

limit the exploration except for extreme safety issues. Even with reasonable safety issues, use the opportunity to teach about safety precautions and managing risk. Supervise!

As one home-schooling mom said, “I couldn’t agree more – my son who is now headed off to study physics at university absolutely loved physics. I would like to think it might be because we owned balls and Hot Wheels and elastic and marbles and that I sat in the driveway (as the safety monitor) while he lit things and launched things and built things that rolled and put his little brother in them and pushed him down the hill and I let him jump in elevators and watch YouTube videos of other people doing crazy things for the first nine years of home-schooling. All that experiential learning made high school physics easy.”

If parents have a child geared to STEM, they will know it. Sure, some classes might be fun, but fund what the child wants to do, not what a class advertisement says they need. Get them access to what materials they request, supervise the scary stuff, show them how to clean up, and get out of their way! After all, Einstein didn’t have STEM day camps or extracurricular classes! He had curiosity and creativity.

About Judy Arnall, BA, CCFE, is a certified brain and child development specialist and master of non-punitive parenting and education practices. She is the bestselling author of four parenting books and the newest one titled “Unschooling To University” (www.unschoolingtouniversity.com). n Alberta School Counsellor / Spring 2022 29

Find the right heavy equipment operator training for you

W

hen you ask Christine Hansen, senior vicepresident at IHE Heavy Equipment Operator School what’s the toughest job to get as a heavy equipment operator, her answer may

surprise you.

But there’s good news.

As the current heavy equipment workforce ages and operators retire, employers need to find people to take their place. But in an industry where experience is highly valuable, how can a young or newer heavy equipment operator best set themselves

“It’s your first,” she says.

up for success.

When you know the reasoning, it makes complete sense. The

The answer is simple: get the right heavy equipment training.

only way to become a smooth operator of heavy equipment is to get hundreds, even thousands of hours of experience. Most employers are looking for operators who are experienced, so they’re taking a risk by hiring someone new to the trade.

“Your first job is your hardest one to get because you’re not

Across its three campuses in Alberta and British Columbia, IHE Heavy Equipment School offers courses covering single machines to more comprehensive training where a student learns how to operate a variety of machines.

Hansen. “And we really drill that into our students because it

Which heavy equipment operator training is right for you?

switches their psyche.”

When it comes to choosing the right heavy equipment operator

going to get a job unless someone pays you to learn,” says

Yet, you need someone to employ you to get experience. It’s a catch-22 that a lot of workers face.

30 Alberta School Counsellor / Spring 2022

training, the more comprehensive, the better.

IHE offers several comprehensive heavy equipment operator

courses. All of them vary in length and price, including the Earth Mover, Heavy Equipment Operator, Full Equipment, 3-Piece Combo, and individual machine courses.

Consider your budget and time Though Hansen recommends the 10-week course to almost everyone, it also depends on the student’s financial situation.

“It all comes down to their budget and plan on where to work

Still not sure what heavy equipment operator training is right for you?

Investing in the right training is a big life-changing decision. If you still have questions or want more information, IHE Heavy Equipment School is here to help.

Call 1 (866) 399-3853 to speak with one of their student advisors today or go to www.iheschool.com for more information. n

after. It really depends on each person’s individual need and life situation,” says Hansen. “We really pride ourselves on listening to the needs of our customers and students, and then adapting our program, delivery, and plan for them to meet their needs.”

V Y EQUIPMENT HEA

Training safe and skilled operators since 2005.

The single-machine courses are only recommended for people in certain circumstances. For example, if a person is already employed and their company requires them to get training on a specific machine or, a person already has a job offer on condition.

“If you’re brand new to the industry and brand new to

OL OPER ATOR SCHO

YOUR NEW OFFICE with just 3 months of training

equipment, we search for any funding support options available to aid with costs so we can enroll you in a longer course with more seat hours like the 10-week or even 12-week Earthmover course.”

In addition, all IHE alumni also receive a resume career package to jumpstart their transition from training to employment.

But Hansen says the true key to graduates’ success is a good attitude, a willingness to learn and to take advantage of any work opportunities offered to them.

“Having a can-do attitude, being respectful to others and being willing to learn and start where your peers are willing to work with you is the best way to get a great job reference as a newer

REGISTER TODAY 1.866.399.3853 w w w. i h e s c h o o l . c o m Get Trained • Get Hired • Get Working Innisfail, AB Edmonton, AB Winfield, BC

operator on a job site,” says Hansen.

Alberta School Counsellor / Spring 2022 31

Robertson College introduces complementary learning to meet the needs of learners in a post-pandemic world

O

ver the past two years, we have all been met with many challenges as we dealt with the impact of a pandemic. The education sector, including at the post-secondary level, was no exception. For Robertson College, the pandemic served as an impetus to review the college’s program offerings and delivery model so that it would continue to work for learners living in a post-pandemic world.

What resulted was the adoption of a whole new learning delivery model. Launched in the fall of 2021, the complementary learning model puts the needs of the modern learner at the forefront. It reimagines how students engage in their classes and with their instructors and peers.

“To complement means to bring together to make something complete. We recognized, now more than ever, there is a need to challenge the traditional models of the past and to

make them work for today’s learners,” says Terena Caryk, vicepresident, product and operations at Robertson College. “By moving instruction to Brightspace, we allow our learners to learn in a way that complements the other responsibilities they may have in their life.”

Under complementary learning, programs are delivered in one of three ways – online instructor-guided, hybrid, or online selfguided. Instruction for online instructor-guided programs take place in Brightspace, Robertson’s own online learning platform, where learners have 24-7 access to their learning materials and e-books. Learners engage with the materials on their own time (asynchronously) with optional synchronous sessions each week with their peers or private office hours with their instructors. This provides learners with the freedom to set their own schedules while still providing the structure and support they need to proceed through their program.

“To complement means to bring together to make something complete. We recognized, now more than ever, there is a need to challenge the traditional models of the past and to make them work for today’s learners.”

32 Alberta School Counsellor / Spring 2022

Under the hybrid modality, the majority of instruction

both an academic and non-academic standpoint by their learner

(both synchronous and asynchronous) takes place online

experience guides. We also have a very active community on

in Brightspace with required hands-on training taking place

our Robertson app that lets our learners from across Canada

on campus and in person. This modality allows learners to

connect in a meaningful way.”

receive necessary hands-on instruction from their instructors at key points throughout their program and is mostly used

The new complementary learning model is already celebrated

for Robertson’s health-care programs like massage therapy or

by students across Canada. Learners who are balancing full-time

pharmacy assistant.

or part-time work, families, or other commitments have found it convenient to not have to commute to campus every day. They

For learners who require the ultimate flexibility, the online

have also found it valuable to be able to set their own study

self-guided modality allows students to engage with materials

schedules with weekly synchronous sessions to keep them on

asynchronously from beginning to end with guidance and

track.

feedback from instructors when required.

Students contemplating post-secondary education may find “What we’ve been through the past two years have made the

Robertson’s free college readiness micro-course useful. The

idea of remote learning less daunting and even more widely

content covered is general to post-secondary institutions and

acceptable. However, we also know that after these prolonged periods of isolation, people crave interaction and the idea of community. These are all very relevant issues for today, so we’ve taken steps to meet these needs,” says Liz Choi, CEO of

explores the importance of being ‘financially ready’ to attend college. This course is recommended to all incoming Robertson learners.

Robertson College. “Our programs have built in touch points

Sign up for the course here:

throughout the program and learners are supported both from

robertsoncollege.com/programs/college-readiness. n

We help students find meaningful work.

With experienced instructors, financial guidance, online study options, and lifelong career support, we make it easier to achieve the high-demand career of your choice.

robertsoncollege.ca

Alberta School Counsellor / Spring 2022 33

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opportunities

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