Aboriginal Teacher Education Program

Offered in Partnership with Queen's University

  • Start Date: September 2008
  • Duration: 2 years, Part-time
  • Location: Seven Generations Education Institute – Fort Frances, ON
  • Coordinator: Laura Horton
  • Application Deadline: April, 2008
PRIMARY AND JUNIOR DIVISIIONS

The community-based Diploma in Education option is open to Aboriginal applicants with Grade 12 or equivalent. The two-year part-time program option prepares candidates to teach in the Primary and Junior divisions (Junior Kindergarten to Grade Six). Graduates obtain the Diploma in Education (Dip.Ed.) and qualify for the Certificate of Qualifcation (formerly called the Ontario Teacher’s Certificate) in the Primary and Junior divisions.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

ATE has an admission policy which incorporates the following special features:

· Candidates may complete some prerequisites to admission as exit requirements rather than entrance requirements;

· Applicants of Aboriginal ancestry who hold the Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent are eligible for admission to the Primary-Junior program option leading to the Diploma in Education;

· ATE candidates may be granted prerequisite equivalencies for skills such as fluency or functionality in an Aboriginal language;

Affirmative action is employed in the provision that candidates for the Dip.Ed. must be of Aboriginal ancestry, and candidates for the B.Ed. will ordinarily be of Aboriginal ancestry;

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

This unique program track provides an opportunity for candidates to specialize in Aboriginal education, and is intended for Aboriginal candidates.

This two-year, part-time program features courses with Aboriginal-specific content and practice teaching placements in First Nations and Provincial schools. The program prepares Aboriginal candidates to teach in First Nations and Provincial schools, and leads to a Diploma in Education.

The community-based program track is designed for Aboriginal students (Status, non-status, or Metis) who are interested in Aboriginal education. The program may be of particular interest to mature students, people who are currently employed but wish to obtain their teacher certification, and those with experience in Aboriginal education.

The community-based program reflects features offered at the Faculty of Education with the addition of Aboriginal-specific content. Program material is delivered through short, intensive course sessions scheduled so that those who have work or family responsibilities are able to attend without being away from home for extended periods.

Courses are offered on a part-time basis over a period of two years during the fall, winter, spring, and short summer sessions, one of which is normally held on campus at Queen’s. The practice teaching requirements may be completed in the candidate’s home community or in other Aboriginal communities.

PROGRAM OF STUDY

Primary-Junior Components - total requirements is 5.0 credits

Curriculum 2.5 credits

Elective 0.5 credit
One course to be selected from EDST, FOCI or FOUN

Practicum 1.0 credit

Note – program components are subject to change without notice.

FORMAT

Candidates in ATE complete all components of Primary-Junior. They take FOCI 201, Aboriginal Teacher Education, and are placed in a dedicated section of PROF 190/191, Theory and Professional Practice. Community-based courses are adapted to include Aboriginal content. Candidates are placed in Aboriginal schools for a portion of the teaching practicum.

CERTIFICATION

Graduates are recommended to the Ontario College of Teachers to be awarded the Certificate of Qualification as a teacher and to become members of the College. Upon application to the College, candidates must submit a negative tuberculin test result or a normal chest x-ray administered during the program year or within one year prior to application to the College. Another document required for certification and College membership is a criminal record check, obtainable from a police department.

The Certificate of Qualification shows teachers’ previous academic degrees as well as the divisions in which they are qualified.

TEACHER TESTING

The Ontario Ministry of Education has announced that it plans to begin testing all newly-graduated teachers in the spring of 2002. As of the publication date of this document, the Faculty of Education has no information concerning the content of the test or how it will be administered. Accordingly, the Faculty must disclaim any responsibility for its graduates’ success or failure in this test.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

All applicant’s must submit a complete package to Seven Generations Education Institute

  • Seven Generations Education Institute application form;
  • Queen’s University application form;
  • Queen’s University $75 application fee payable to Queen’s University in the form of a cheque or money order;
  • Two letters of community support;
  • One personal statement (one page) related to the education field;
  • Resume;
  • Grade 12 official transcript or equivalency;
  • B.A. official transcript (if applicable);
  • Any other official post-secondary transcripts;
  • Sponsor letter for funding (if applicable).
  • Proof of citizenship (photocopy of Status Card or birth certificate)

Deadline date for applying is April, 2008. Please submit all of the above information to:

Dionne Nolan, Program Assistant

Aboriginal Teacher Education Program

Faculty of Education, Queen's University

511 Union St. , Kingston, Ontario, K7L 3N6

http://educ.queensu.ca/~atep/