Situating Understanding in Science Education: Beyond One-Way of Knowing

Session Description: This session gives space to share understandings of ways of knowing in science education. Through a storying approach, participants will visit the complexities of learning,  deconstructing, and unlearning constructed narratives of the colonial project embedded within science education. This session will share personal understandings, give classroom experiences, and unpack the following questions: What does Reconciliation look like within Science education? How can Decolonizing Science education attend to unlearning? What are the responsibilities needed to Indigenize Science education?

What to bring: Weather permitting, this session would be ideal to spend outdoors. Please bring a camping chair, umbrella (for shade if needed) and something to keep hydrated.

Bio (if needed): Karen West is a First Nations educator originating from Whitecourt, Alberta. Her maternal family connects her to the Sucker Creek First Nation, and her paternal family settled in Alberta after migrating westward during the Railroad expansion. Her extensive background in science education has enabled her to collaborate with students and instructors across K-12 and post-secondary levels. Karen has also made supported her contributions as a curriculum consultant at both the Provincial and Divisional levels. Driven by these experiences, she is passionate about examining the effects of colonialism in education and is currently pursuing her PhD at the University of Alberta. Karen leans on her story to unpack constructed narratives, to understand the past, for healing and balance in the present.

This session will run from 1 PM - 3:30 PM