GCE: Leadership in Social Justice (Online)

Indigenous Perspectives in Canadian Education introduces students to the history of Indigenous education in Canada, Indigenous pedagogies and epistemologies, decolonization in education, while encouraging students to think about their own roles in reconciliation through the lens of education. Through selected readings, weekly discussions, and assignments, students will develop a greater understanding of the traditional, historical, and contemporary roles of education in the lives of Indigenous peoples in Canada. Because the course readings include studies that draw upon Indigenous or Indigenous-informed methodologies, students will also be introduced to some ways that Indigenous methodologies are used in educational research.  

(3 credits)  

Ethical Leadership uses tenets of critical pedagogy and ethics to help students develop as critically conscious leaders guided by the notion that education can simultaneously foster the cultivation of intellect and a commitment to socially just practices.  

(3 credits) 

Curriculum as Living Inquiry introduces students to curriculum as dynamically re/conceptualized and relationally understood. Drawing from both foundational and current scholars, students will differentiate between curriculum as plan and curriculum as process as they explore the notion of currere, interrogate hidden curriculum, and investigate those made invisible by curriculum. The roles of self and self-in-relation are central considerations as students from diverse education contexts explore various approaches to including lived experience in curricular initiatives or program planning.  

(3 credits)  

Diversity and Leadership uses selected readings, weekly discussions, and assignments, to help students develop a greater understanding of diversity as a social construction in relation to the concepts of social identity and social location. The specific areas of diversity included in this course are: Identity and Intersectionality; Privilege and Power; Race and Ethnicity; Gender and Sexual Orientation; Multiculturalism; Inclusiveness and Universal Design for Learning; and Globalization and Leadership.  

(3 credits)  

Educational Leadership: Perspectives and Practices is a foundational course that is attentive to the ways theoretical knowledge and applied practice can inform each other. A prerequisite for further studies in the field, it explores major theoretical perspectives on leadership in relation to current practices in educational administration and leadership. 

(3 credits) (elective) 

Change and Transformation prepares students to successfully manage and champion personal, professional, and organizational change. Collaborative and interest-based approaches are foundational as are discussions of dynamic change theory and the avoidance of change fatigue. 

(3 credits) (elective) 

Supervision of Instruction introduces students to various institutional settings for instructional supervision as well as supervisory techniques that support professional development. 

(3 credits) (elective) 

Leadership and Community Engagement teaches students to engage a range of community stakeholders in ways that benefit all those with vested interests. Identifying leaders as integral to this process, this course focuses on the complexities of community engagement and the various forms this engagement might take. The skills required of successful leaders of community engagement are explicitly connected to critical reflection and thoughtful praxis. Particular attention is given to students developing their own leadership capacity to strengthen professional connections within their K-12 school communities and/or community-based non-profit organizations. 

(3 credits) (elective) 

Leadership in Higher Education encourages students to develop the skills, knowledge, innovative thinking that is required of leaders within various post-secondary contexts. Under the impacts of internationalization and 21st century technological advances, individuals in multi-faceted leadership positions across colleges and universities are being challenged to consider emerging models of leadership and their implications for the design and organization of post- secondary educational environments. The specific areas of leadership in higher education included in this course are: strategic planning; communication, collaboration, and partnership development (within and beyond the institution); leadership commitment to diversity; supporting intellectual curiosity; recruitment, retention, and student support; financial leadership; change leadership and crisis management. 

(3 credits) (elective) 

Research in Education familiarizes students with methods of educational research. Its primary focus is to help them understand both quantitative and qualitative research and to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to read, understand, and critically evaluate published research. Mixed methods and critical approaches are also explored. Research methods, information gathering strategies, and analysis procedures are examined. Students will begin to think about possible topics for their capstone projects. 

(3 credits) (elective)

Action Research provides students with an in-depth study of the action-oriented ways adult educators, teachers and educational leaders can systematically examine their own practices. Emphasis is placed on developing skills related to research focus, project design, information gathering, and interpretation. This course is grounded in reflexive practice. 

(3 credits) (elective) 

Learning and Organizations provides an opportunity for students to examine the emergence of the learning organization and explore ways to build sustainable learning dynamics and foster spaces where people flourish. Attention will be given to the ways knowledge management and technology help organizations become learning organizations. 

(3 credits) (elective) 

Assessment and Evaluation in Education allows students to explore various diagnostic, formative, and summative methods from both theoretical and practical perspectives. Students will learn how to develop and use assessment to promote student learning within a positive knowledge-curation culture (i.e., classroom, department, working unit, etc.). A focus on how to build efficacious and self-regulated learners through pedagogical assessment strategies that utilize accurate and ethical interpretation will be a focus. Students will also explore and differentiate between assessment and evaluation principles for both individual and program performance. A final culminating learning experience will be to reflect upon an assessment and evaluation architecture that aligns to an area of professional interest. 

(3 credits) (elective) 

Foundations of Adult Education presents an overview of the major societal purposes of adult education by exploring and examining the conceptual, historical, and philosophical foundations that inform current practices in the field. Students are encouraged to examine the relationship between theory and practice, and to identify their own ideas and practices in relation to these theories and practices. 

(3 credits) (elective) 

Program Development and Planning provides a theoretical and conceptual foundation in contemporary approaches to program development and planning for adult learners. Students apply newly‐acquired knowledge and skills in designing a program. Topics include: designing and developing programs; assessing needs; setting learning objectives and outcomes; designing instructional plans; and developing evaluation strategies. 

(3 credits) (elective) 

Learning and Teaching Online explores the theory underlying the development and application of new interactive educational technologies, how they might fit with instructional design, learning and assessment strategies, and infrastructures. The course provides hands-on experience with a range of learning technologies and enables students to explore the processes of designing, implementing, and critiquing technology-based learning. The course will introduce students to current debates around the concept of openness. By the end of the course, students will have developed the ability to act as creative and critical professionals within the broad field of technology-based learning, teaching, and training. 

(3 credits) (elective) 

Transformative Learning in Adult Education involves an examination of transformative learning. This course will help students to understand what transformative learning is, distinguish it from other forms of learning, and foster it in their practice. The course will cover five broad areas: history; theory; research; practice; and future perspectives of transformative learning. 

(3 credits) (elective) 

Adult Education for Sustainability and Global Citizenship is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills to integrate with depth and creativity the principles of sustainability and global consciousness into classrooms, colleges, and community contexts. Students will explore sustainable development and global citizenship to understand their alignment with adult education theory and practice, in particular affective and dialogic learning, inclusivity, and systemic thinking. 

(3 credits) (elective)