First Practicum Placement (25 teaching days)
In March and April of 2018 my first practicum occurred at Fultonvale Elementary Junior High. This school is a rural k-9 school in the Elk Island Public Schools school division and is located South East of Sherwood Park Alberta. During this placement I worked with grades 7, 8, and 9 in their science curriculum, assisted in running flex sessions, and observed a recreation leadership class.
Second Practicum Placement (45 teaching days)
Will Occur for 9 weeks in February, March and April of 2019
H.E. Beriault School will be the location of my second practicum placement. This school is a Jr. high school serving grades 7-12, in the Edmonton Catholic School District and is located in West Edmonton. During this placement I will be working with grades 8 and 9 teaching the Science and Math curricula.
Notre Dame Collegiate- High River, Alberta. Worked with Mrs. LaRocque
Notre Dame Collegiate is a secondary school serving grades 7 to 12 located in the community of High River, AB. I had the opportunity to complete my 3-day Community Service learning volunteer experience at this school, observing and participating in classroom teaching. I was able to teach classes and aid students one-on-one in math and science classes. As a former iGEM mentor for the school, I also was able to deliver a guest lecture and lab for their current iGEM competition team.
From 2016-2017 I was this team's mentor for the High school iGEM program offered though the MindFuel GeekStarter program.
Millarville Community School - Millarville, Alberta: 3 Day observation and practice teaching experience
Millarville community school is a small rural K-9 school located southwest of Calgary on the edge of the rocky mountains. During my time there I was able to engage with many different classes including; shop; Entrepreneurship and computer programming; grades 6, 7, and 8 Science, English, and Math; grade 3 Language Arts; grade 5 Science and Social Studies. I had the opportunity to assist in teaching a Grade 6 science class and a grade 7 math class. Most of the classes were working on project-based learning, allowing me to engage students with questions about their project and future directions.
Brain Waves Concussion Awareness Group, Injury Prevention Center, School of Public Health, University of Alberta.
Volunteer teaching in grade 4 about brain functions, concussions and brain injury prevention.
Executive board member, assisting in program design and delivery logistics.
First Nations Education Administrators Association National Gathering, A Two Eyed Seeing approach to STEM in the First Nations Classroom November 2023, Winnipeg
Delivered a workshop for First Nations educational Administrators about delivering project-based learning in the indigenous STEM classroom, and the impact of experiential learning on student engagement and learning.
Ottawa CatholicSchool Board, A Two Eyed Seeing Approach to Indigenous STEM Education, April 2023, Ottawa ON (virtual)
Delivered a talk for educators and Q&A session on how I have applied two eyed seeing for project-based learning and how that has impacted learning outcomes and engagement in the classroom.
Toronto Catholic District School Board, A Two Eyed Seeing Approach to Decolonizing the Classroom, March 2023, Toronto ON (virtual)
Delivered a talk for educators and Q&A session on how to approach decolonization through a two eyed seeing lens, through project-based learning and how that enhanced student engagement.
MindFuel, Project-Based learning Workshop: November 2022, Calgary AB
Delivered a workshop delivering project-based learning in the STEM classroom, for teachers looking to engage in more project based experiential learning.
Alberta Teachers Association Science Council, Two Eyed Seeing Approach to STEM Education: October 2022, Banff AB
Delivered a talk on Two eyed seeing in the STEM classroom, for delegates of the annual science teachers conference.
Blackfoot Confederacy Conference, Two Eyed Seeing and Project-Based Learning: October 2022, Calgary AB
Delivered a talk and info session on how I use project-based learning and Two Eyed Seeing in my science classes in Siksika.
Ottawa Catholic School Board, Innovative Teaching Strategies in Project-Based Learning: August 2022, Ottawa On (virtual)
Delivered a talk and Q&A session on how project-based learning has impacted learning outcomes and engagement in the classroom.
Actua, Akwesasne Cultural Camp, Integrating Technology with Two Eyed Seeing for Land Based Learning: July 2022, Akwesasne First Nation, Ontario
Delivered a presentation to other educators about how I have integrated technology toward enhancing Indigenous ways of knowing from a Two Eyed Seeing perspective around STEM.
Siksika Board of Education, Professional Development - Tinker Cad and 3D printing workshop: February 2022, Siksika First Nation
Developed and delivered material on how to conduct project-based learning with Tinker CAD Software to allow projects to be printed in 3D.
MindFuel, Two Eyed Seeing Workshop: May 2022, Calgary
Delivered a workshop on Two eyed seeing in the STEM classroom, and constructed Tipi's with integrated electronic circuits with LEDs of traditional constellations.
Actua, Ideas Summit, Aligning Indigenous Knowledge & STEM in the Classroom: May 2022, Online
Invited panelist discussing how I align Indigenous Ways of Knowing and traditional knowledge in my classroom with STEM outcomes.
Actua, National Conference, Digital Agriculture: Towards a Sustainable Future: January 2022, Online
Invited panelist discussing students working towards agriculture projects and bringing forward the indigenous perspective experience and perspective on agriculture.
MindFuel, Workshop, Storytelling and STEM Workshop: May 2021, Online
Delivered a workshop on two eyed seeing and how to use storytelling in the STEM classroom.
EPSB PD day - Brain Waves Concussion Awareness: February 2019, Edmonton
Worked with a program organizers to deliver the Brain Waves Concussion Awareness program to teachers for Edmonton Public School Board Professional Development day. Talked about the impact of concussions and the value of injury prevention. Delivered examples of games and activities that students can engage in to understand how their brain plays a role in their 5 senses.
Siksika Board of Education, Professional Development - Tinker Cad and 3D printing workshop: February 2022, Siksika First Nation
Developed and delivered material on how to conduct project based learning with Tinker CAD Software to allow projects to be printed in 3D.
MindFuel, Two Eyed Seeing Workshop: May 2022, Calgary
Delivered a workshop on Two eyed seeing in the STEM classroom, and constructed Tipi's with integrated electronic circuits with LEDs of traditional constellations.
Actua, Akwesasne Cultural Camp, Integrating Technology with Two Eyed Seeing for Land Based Learning: July 2022, Akwesasne First Nation, Ontario
Delivered a presentation to other educators about how I have integrated technology toward enhancing Indigenous ways of knowing from a Two Eyed Seeing perspective around STEM.
Actua, Ideas Summit, Aligning Indigenous Knowledge & STEM in the Classroom: May 2022, Online
Panelist discussing how I align Indigenous Ways of Knowing and traditional knowledge in my classroom with STEM outcomes.
Actua, National Conference, Digital Agriculture: Towards a Sustainable Future: January 2022, Online
Panelist discussing students working towards agriculture projects and bringing forward the indigenous perspective experience and perspective on agriculture.
Mindfuel, Workshop, Storytelling and STEM Workshop: May 2021, Online
Delivered a workshop on two eyed seeing and how to use storytelling in the STEM classroom
Along with a colleague, I introduced and developed the very first high school iGEM program in Canada. Our program was an offshoot of the university-based iGEM competition, and therefore also integrated an international competition in genetic engineering where our first high school team brought home a gold medal and our second team was named World Champions.
The program, originally funded by and managed by Alberta Innovates, is now managed by MindFuel. It revolves around teaching high school students from grades 10-12 the principles and lab skills of synthetic biology, which is a form of genetic engineering. Students integrate classroom theory with hands-on learning to conceptualize and build their own projects. In my program, students would spend one hour learning the theory in a classroom setting and then spend a few hours in a biology laboratory applying those skills hands-on. (Contact me to learn more about what the students were learning or check out their websites they built to record their projects and learning experiences-- hyperlinks are below). Our program culminated in an international competition held at MIT in Cambridge MA. There, high school teams from around the world gathered to present their projects and the research they engaged in. While I was part of the program I was able to lead them through a number of award-winning projects.
Over the two years that I volunteered with the program, I helped design and deliver program content that aligned and exceeded the high school curriculum. I designed, set up, and led hands-on labs for students, including ordering supplies, chemical preparations, instructional processes and materials. As the programs Liaison, I worked with writing and reporting on grants, reported to the program's principle investigator, and maintained communication with the granting agencies. Administrative duties included: organizing skills workshops; liaising with parents; distributing and managing legal, safety and parent-information documents; planning, booking, and attending travel to provincial and international conferences with students.
2013 - Oxytastic: A Synthetic Biology Approach to Oxytocin Production
Team: 25 Students
Awards: Best Wiki, Best New BioBrick Part Natural, and Grand Prize Green BioBrick Trophy (world champions)
2012 - Treating Type I Diabetes: A Synthetic Biology Approach
Team: 30 Students
Awards: Best Poster
In years following, when I moved to Calgary, I took on a mentoring role due to my past experience participating in Collegiate, High School and Entrepreneurial streams of the iGEM program. During this time I mentored a high school team in High River, AB. I mentored the teacher-leaders in concepts of synthetic biology and how to run an iGEM team. I taught as guest lecturer for the students, outlining the intricacies of synthetic biology. I helped review project plans and helped students understand the scope of ideas. I assisted in the delivery and development of lab skills. I helped with troubleshooting and equipment purchasing suggestions. As a mentor I attended all of their workshops and delivered session on project design and development.
Siksika Board of Education, Siksika Nation High School - Teacher
Taught high school sciences(Science, Biology, and Chemistry) and CTS courses. (2019 - 2023)
Sylvan Learning Centre - Teacher
Lesson planning and delivery, working with K-12 students in a 3-on-1 learning arrangement. (2018-2019)
Private tutoring
Tutoring grade 5-12 students in math and science (2018-2019)
FNMI Tutoring Program at the University of Lethbridge
Conducted tutoring sessions for university classes through the FNMI student centre. (2010, 2011)
WinSport - Instructor and Coach, Program Facilitator
X-Country Ski Instructor and Coach (2009/2010)
Downhill Ski Instructor (2016/20017)
Outdoor Leadership school (2017)
Summer Camp Program Development and Facilitator (2017)
Summer camp instructor experiences
YMCA - camp chief hector, Spring/Summer Camp Program Facilitator and Canoe Instructor (2009)
Camp Tamarak Summer camp, Canoe Instructor and Cabin leader (2010)