1. Critically discuss one or more of the EdCamp topics attended.
  • I missed the class on Friday, February 18th due to sickness, but I reviewed some of the previous topics and some of them seem extremely interesting. Of the past EdCamp topics I have a lot of interest in the topics of “increasing agency in adolescents” and “integrating Indigenous education”.
  • Beginning with “increasing agency in adolescents”, this is a topic which I find quite interesting because I think it is a very important aspect of schooling and is ultimately the responsibility of the educator. Agency is so important for educators to instill in their students due to it being such an integral part of student success. Educators can also, in my opinion, easily integrate student agency into all assignments which they students engage with. Student agency can be done in class through problem-based or project-based learning which the students have some form of choice in. By allowing them to choose their own topics or mediums for projects it gives students ownership in their own work and allows them to become more invested in the learning. Student agency has been shown to have a positive effect on students in many ways. These include increases in, engagement, motivation, creativity and comprehension. I would love to learn more about how to increase agency in students and I hope to either attend other seminars or independently research for my benefit.

Student Agency: Promoting Student Engagement – TeachHUB

The Student Agency How: Strategies to Use in the Classroom | Gateway Impact Labs

  • Secondly, I believe “increasing Indigenous education” is an extremely important thing educators must engage with and promote to their students. Indigenous education is so important and as the Ministry of Education says “seeks to improve success and supports for Indigenous students, and increase the presence of Indigenous students, and increase the presence of Indigenous culture, languages and history for all students” and “aims to help teachers bring Indigenous knowledge into their teaching practice”. This are both extremely important points which the Ministry is promoting, as increasing support and presence of Indigenous students in an extremely important and historically overlooked aspect of education. This overlooking also includes the aspects of increase the presence of Indigenous culture, language, and history, and must be ratified immediately, so students have an accurate understanding of the place they live. It is also extremely important for teachers to bring Indigenous knowledge into their classrooms, and share these points of view with their students. I have included several links which goes into much deeper analysis of how and why Indigenous education should be increased.
  • Land-Based Education:

Indigenous Education in British Columbia – Province of British Columbia (gov.bc.ca)

What matters in Indigenous education: Implementing a Vision Committed to Holism, Diversity and Engagement – People for Education

2. Links: