Canadian Education Association -- News and Announcements
Canadian-focused education news and CEA announcements
- Last build:
- Fri, 07 Mar 2008 21:28:13 GMT
- Language:
- en-ca
- Feed URL:
- http://www.cea-ace.ca/rss-en.xml
RSS FEED IDEMS: Canadian Education Association -- News and Announcements
- Inequality of Learning amongst Immigrant Children in Industrialised Countries
Research examining immigrants' educational disadvantage across countries focuses generally on average differences in educational outcomes between immigrants and natives, thereby disguising the fact that immigrants are a highly heterogeneous group. The aim of this paper is to examine educational inequalities among immigrant groups in eight high immigration countries: Australia, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, Sweden, Switzerland, UK and USA.
\
Results of the study indicate that for almost all countries, the variance in immigrants' educational achievement is much greater than for natives, meaning that there is a larger gap between high and low achievers among immigrants than there is among natives.
In general, Canadian first- and second-generation immigrant youth performed better on international assessments than immigrant youth in the other countries examined, and also showed less variance between high- and low-achievers than elsewhere.Inequality of Learning amongst Immigrant Children in Industrialised Countries
Fri, 07 Mar 2008 21:28:13 GMT - Kansas and Missouri Students and Parents Less Concerned about Amount of Math and Science in Curriculum
There is growing consensus among the U.S. business, government and higher education leaders that unless schools do more to train and nurture a whole new generation of young Americans with strong skills in math, science and technology, U.S. leadership in the world economy is at risk. However, a new report from Public Agenda, entitled Important, But Not for Me, concludes that Kansas and Missouri parents and students didn't get the memo. The study finds just 25% of Kansas/Missouri parents think their children should be studying more math and science; 70% think things "are fine as they are now." The report also explains why parents and students are so complacent in this area and what kinds of changes might be helpful in building more interest in and support for more rigorous MST courses.
Thu, 06 Mar 2008 21:55:23 GMT - AEFO study on quality of worklife of Franco-Ontarian school personnel
Just a few days before its provincial policy conference, the Association des enseignantes et des enseignants franco-ontariens (AEFO) releases today the findings of a landmark survey on the quality of life of its 9,000 members working in some 450 schools and related workplaces throughout Ontario. The study paints a picture of a group of dedicated professionals, attentive to the needs of their students, but nevertheless affected by the multiplicity of programs in need of full implementation, the difficulty in balancing work/family life, the lack of resources and workloads considered to be inequitable or poorly defined. And while relations among the various individuals involved are generally good, some harassment is present in the work environment.
Thu, 06 Mar 2008 21:54:32 GMT - Kaleidoscope Real World Video Challenge
The Kaleidoscope Real World Video Challenge gives young people a chance to think about global issues, and put their creative talent to the test by creating a five-minute video to explore what they believe is the most pressing global issue, and what actions people can take locally to address it. March 31st is the deadline for submissions to the Kaleidoscope Real World Video Challenge.
The Ontario Council for International Cooperation (OCIC) invites members and youth between the ages of 8-18 to learn more about storyboarding, video theory and technique, and the power of self representation through video. Come out and participate in one of the video workshops we will be hosting during the month of March across the province. Workshops are free of charge and will focus on creating a solid understanding of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals and using video to communicate one’s own feelings and visions on the most pressing global issues.
WORKSHOPS:
City: Toronto, Ontario
Date: March 8, 2008 – 10am to 1:30pm
Host: National Film Board of Canada with special guests from Oxfam
Target audience: Youth ages 13-18
Workshop status: spaces still available! RSVP ASAP
Notes: It’s International Women’s Day. Using gender equity as their framework, participants in this introductory workshop will manipulate symbols, colours, movement, and found images and objects to create their very own animated public service announcement. Working in production teams and using professional animation tools, youth will create an animated film from start to finish. Starting out, youth will brainstorm ideas about women’s rights and gender equality. They will then work together to develop simple and effective messages to raise awareness about women’s issues around the world.
City: Toronto, Ontario
Date: March 11, 2008 - – 10am to 1:30pm
Host: World Literacy of Canada & Thorncliffe Park Neighbourhood
Target audience: Youth ages 13-18
Workshop status: No spaces left
Notes: Working with students from Thorncliffe Park neighbourhood, WLC’s program provides a fun and creative environment for youth to express and share their cultural heritage through interactive activities. Participants in this workshop will produce short films about the global issues they feel are most important and the visions they have to work for a better world.
City: Ottawa, Ontario
Date: March 17, 2008 – time TBD
Host: TBD
Target audience: Youth 8-18
Workshop status: Workshop to be confirmed
Notes: If you are interested in attending this workshop please contact us at the information provided below.
City: London, Ontario
Date: March 20, 2008 – time TBD
Host: TBD
Target audience: Youth 8-18
Workshop status: Workshop to be confirmed
Notes: If you are interested in attending this workshop please contact us at the information provided below.
City: Toronto, Ontario
Date: March 25, 2008 – 10am to 4pm
Host: TBC
Target audience: OCIC Members & interested youth between the ages of 15-18
Workshop status: spaces still available! RSVP ASAP
Notes: This introductory workshop will highlight the efficiency of video art as a tool for self reflection and community engagement. Participants will learn the basics of storyboarding, video theory and technique, and how to shoot and edit video.
Please note that all workshops are free of charge. If your group or organization would like to request or host a workshop to participate in the Kaleidoscope Real World Video Challenge or if you would like to RSVP for one of the workshops listed above please contact Kris at public.engagement@ocic.on.ca / 416 972 6303.OCIC Kaleidoscope Real World Video Challenge
Thu, 06 Mar 2008 21:53:26 GMT - Nova Scotia Accepts Key Recommendations of Mi'kmaq Services Review
Following the disbandment of the Nova Scotia Mi'kmaq Service Division in 2007, a consultant was hired by the Department of Education to help coordinate and facilitate four dialogue sessions with the aim of providing input on the future direction of the Mi'kmaq Service Division. After a report on the process, along with recommendations in five areas, was completed in October 2007, the N.S. Department of Education has now announced that it has accepted the key recommendations of the review, and will create a Mi'kmaq Liaison Office to replace the former Mi'kmaq Services Division.
Increasing the Effectiveness of Service Delivery to Mi'kmaw Learners
Minister Accepts Key Recommendations of Mi'kmaq Services Review
Wed, 05 Mar 2008 22:49:44 GMT - UN Makes 60 Years of Statistics Available on Web
The DESA Statistics Division of the United Nations has just launched a new internet-based data service for the global user community, bringing sixty years of UN statistical databases within easy reach of users through a single entry point. Overcoming the previous difficulties of accessing the proprietary information, UNdata will bring this unique and authoritative set of data not only to the desks of decision makers and analysts, but also to journalists, to students and to all citizens of the world, by pooling major UN databases into one single internet environment.
UNData - A World of Information
Wed, 05 Mar 2008 22:48:43 GMT - Panel Finds a Majority of Canadians Lack Key Health Literacy Skills
A majority of Canadian adults do not have the skills needed to respond to daily health information demands, according to the Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA)'s Expert Panel on Health Literacy. Considered the skills needed to get, understand and use health information, health literacy is linked with health outcomes and low levels restrict participation in society and the economy. THe expert Panel estimates that the situation in Canada is critical, and recommends a pan-Canadian strategy with policies and programs for the special challenges faced by groups most likely to have low levels of health literacy.
A Vision for a Health Literate Canada (PDF)
Wed, 05 Mar 2008 22:47:57 GMT - New Brunswick Government Invites Public Comment on French Second-language Review
New Brunswickers are being invited to comment on the review of French second-language programs and services within the anglophone sector of the Department of Education. The report was undertaken and completed between July 2007 and February 2008 by Jim Croll and Patricia Lee, and was released Feb. 27. It contains 18 recommendations on improving the state of French second-language learning in New Brunswick, which include:
- That Late Immersion, beginning in Grade 6, be adopted as the sole French Immersion program for Anglophone students in New Brunswick
- That every child, regardless of perceived capability, be equally encouraged to continue their education from Grade 5 onwards in the Late Immersion program
- “That the “target of ensuring that 70% of all high school graduates will function effectively in speaking their second official language”1 will continue to be the goal of French Second Language acquisition throughout New Brunswick
Report of the French Second Language Commission
Wed, 05 Mar 2008 22:46:49 GMT - UK Primary Reports Raise Questions about Education Governance and Justice
The UK Primary Review, the first comprehensive evaluation of primary education in the UK in forty years, has released another round of reports that aim to answer fundamental questions about the adequacy, accountability, and justice of education funding and governance. Some key findings from the most recent reports include:
- a continued disparity between primary and secondary education funding levels, despite an overall increase in funding since 1998
- since 1997, "central control in key areas of educational action has been strengthened within a framework of administrative and fiscal devolution"
- since 1997, primary classrooms have become more coherent and are held to higher standards, but the quality of education has in general decreased
The Primary Review interim reports
Tue, 04 Mar 2008 22:41:30 GMT - New Census Data Reveals Young Canadians Better Educated than their Parents
Statistics Canada today released detailed analyses of data from the 2006 Census on labour market activities, industry, occupation, education and language of work.
Educational Portrait of Canada, 2006 Census provides information on the education of the 17,382,100 adult Canadians aged between 25 and 64.
Among the findings was that 6 out of every 10 Canadians aged between 25 and 64 had completed some form of postsecondary education, and 1 out of every 5 postsecondary graduates had studied business, management and marketing. No other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) nation had a higher proportion of its adult population with university or college attainment than Canada.Educational Portrait of Canada, 2006 Census
Tue, 04 Mar 2008 22:38:34 GMT - The Right of Young Children to Participate in Decisions Affecting Them
In this working paper from the Dutch Bernard van Leer Foundation, author Gerison Lansdown argues that greater voice should be given to young children concerning matters that affect their lives. Arguing that such participation enhances children’s confidence, promotes their overall capacities, strengthens understanding of and commitment to democratic processes and protects children more effectively, this paper proposes how such changes can be put into practice and also how they can be measured.
The Right of Young Children to Participate in Decisions Affecting Them
Tue, 04 Mar 2008 22:37:41 GMT - Hope or Heartbreak: Aboriginal Youth and Canada’s Future
This special issue of Horizons was a joint collaboration between the Government of Canada's Policy Research Initiative and the Research and Analysis Directorate at Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. This volume is part of one of the PRI's current interdepartmental projects, Investing in Youth: Evidence from Research, Policy and Practice, and here focuses on the latest research and analysis to highlight emerging trends, challenges and opportunities related to the rapidly growing population of Aboriginal youth within an aging and changing Canada.
Hope or Heartbreak: Aboriginal Youth and Canada’s Future
Tue, 04 Mar 2008 22:37:36 GMT - Teaching, Learning and Assessment for Adults: Improving Foundation Skills
This recent publication from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) looks specifically inside the programmes for adult language, literacy and numeracy (LLN) learners, with a focus on formative assessment – referring to the frequent assessment of learner understanding and progress to identify needs and shape teaching and learning. Drawing upon evidence gathered in country reports, exemplary case studies and international literature reviews, it examines the impact and implementation of different teaching, learning and assessment practices for adult LLN learners; the way innovative programmes address the very diverse needs and goals of this population; and the policies that support or hinder effective practice.
Teaching, Learning and Assessment for Adults: Improving Foundation Skills
Thu, 28 Feb 2008 22:30:22 GMT - Do Small Classes Reduce the Achievement Gap?
Using data from Tennessee's four-year class size reduction study (Project STAR), author Spyros Konstantopoulos argues that though all students benefited from being in smaller classes, reduced class size did not reduce the achievement gap between higher- and lower-achieving students. Moreover, analysis of the START data indicates that higher-achieving students benefited from the initiative than did lower-achieving students.
The study will be published in the March issue of the Elementary School Journal.Do Small Classes Reduce the Achievement Gap between Low and High Achievers?
Thu, 28 Feb 2008 22:29:29 GMT - New Brunswick Human Rights Commission Issues New Guideline on Accommodating Students with Disabilities
The New Brunswick Human Rights Commission has issued a guideline setting out the approach the commission expects to be taken to deal with possible complaints under the Human Rights Code. A full copy of the 'Guideline" can be obtained on line. The Commission will be holding information sessions for educators and parents in the coming week. The commission guideline includes a graphic flow chart to illustrate the effort to make accommodation work for students with disabilities.
Guideline on Accommodating Students with Disabilities (PDF)
Wed, 27 Feb 2008 21:53:05 GMT
