Whether your Bachelor of Education (BEd) courses are online or in-person the Okanagan School of Education is committed to your learning. We invest in our students’ responsive capacities so they can continually adapt to emergent and diverse situations and needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the program start?
Orientation will take place online on September 8. Your first day of EDUC 403: Becoming a Scholar-Practitioner begins on September 9 and will be online. You will receive more information by late August about your first week of school.
What does Winter Term 1 look like?
Our program has a look and feel quite different from others. Our courses are organized into Blocks. Your Winter Term 1 will consist of two blocks: Block 1 (EDUC 403) takes place from September 8 to October 2. Block 2 (EDUC 438) takes place from October 5 to December 4. You will then have a two-week Field Experience from December 7 to 18.
Most of your courses will have a synchronous learning component, where you’ll be engaging with faculty, other teacher candidates and guest speakers in real-time. There will be some asynchronous learning during your Blocks. This means that the instruction doesn’t occur in real-time. There may be pre-recorded video lectures to watch or it may be time to work on an assignment. Candidates will participate in online discussions related to key topics with each other and their instructors. Some current candidates have found it helpful to organize study groups to help stay on track and focused during these times.
In addition to your blocks, you will be assigned to an Advisory group by the end of September. Your Advisory sessions will prepare you for school visits and extended field experiences. It is anticipated that these Advisory sessions in-person in small groups on campus. These sessions are facilitated by a faculty advisor and will be held throughout the year.
We understand some students may be nervous about online learning. The faculty of the OSE, who will be your instructors, will work with you to help you navigate this online learning experience in meaningful and engaging ways. UBC uses a powerful user-friendly learning management system (Canvas) that supports students’ educational goals. Supports will be in place throughout the Blocks to ensure you can access and use Canvas.
What will my daily time commitment be?
We suggest being available from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday for your coursework. You will be sent a calendar that outlines how each week will be arranged in terms of exact learning times for each Block.
Do I have to be in Kelowna for Winter Term 1?
Your field experiences in schools are planned to begin in October. We ask that you are in the UBCO area in-person by October 1. You will be meeting with a mentor teacher and students in some capacity.
Will we physically be placed in K-12 schools?
In-situ coursework begins in Block 2. These are classes that are held in K-12 schools where you will be working with students and teachers. The courses in Block 2 will likely be blended, some face-to-face small classes on campus, some work in schools, and some online work (synchronous and asynchronous).
The Ministry of Education will be providing ideas regarding the next steps for schools in late August. The BC K-12 Education Restart Plan has a frame that will guide next steps. You should familiarize yourself with the Restart Plan as well as with the Public Health Guidance for Safe & Healthy Schools (please note that this document may be updated in the summer).
Additional resources
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and UBC’s Response: Information and FAQs available. Read More.
Okanagan Campus: List of closures and modified hours for services. Read more.
Students seeking emergency assistance funding should contact UBCO’s financial aid office at sis.ubco@ubc.ca
Okanagan School of Education: Announcements and updates. Read more.
Questions and concerns
If you have concerns regarding your courses, please check Canvas. If you need to contact your course instructor about concerns, please email education.ubco@ubc.ca.
Your faculty advisor is here (once you’ve been assigned) to support your learning needs. Please feel free to contact your faculty advisor if you have questions or need assistance.
If you still have concerns or academic issues, email: Wendy Klassen, Director of Undergraduate Programs, the Okanagan School of Education at wendy.klassen@ubc.ca
As COVID-19 is a rapidly evolving situation, these online learning expectations may change as we get closer to the start of school or as the semester progresses.