In August 2024, Dr. Kevin O’Connor had the privilege of bringing two fourth-year teacher candidates (TCs) to Cologne, Germany, for the UNITE Summer School Conference at the University of Cologne. This opportunity is part of a partnership between Mount Royal University and the University of Cologne. The 2024 bi-annual summer conference centred around the theme Well-Being in the Teaching Profession - International Perspectives.
Kyle Joseph and Hayley McInnes are fourth-year teacher candidates in the Bachelor of Education - Elementary program. They are also employed as part-time research assistants for Dr. O’Connor’s study Hybrid Spaces within a Professional Development School Context funded by a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Grant (SSHRC). The research team presented the keynote at the conference, titled Thinking Outside the Classroom: The Benefits of Outdoor Education on Mental Health and Well-Being. The presentation focused on their experiences learning about well-being through coursework and practicum experience. Here are excerpts from their experiences:
Kyle: I was able to gain insight into alternative approaches to not only teacher wellbeing but also to pedagogical practice from several other countries. The culmination of this insight was during our trips to schools in Cologne. I had the opportunity to tour a German-English bilingual school and talk to several teachers about their experiences teaching as native English speakers in Germany. It was professionally impactful to see how the German school system is structured and what education looks like halfway around the world.
Professionally, the experience of presenting at an international conference was immensely rewarding. A significant personal/professional milestone for me was the opportunity to stand before a global audience and deliver a lecture on our research and its implications for teacher wellbeing. I was thrilled and proud to present what leaps in practice we’re taking at Mount Royal.
Hayley: Teacher educators from all over the world helped open my eyes to the importance of well-being and the different aspects of wellness. Through workshops, I learned the importance of learning resilience as a pre-service teacher to improve wellness. I learned that continual reflection on my resiliency as a pre-service teacher will help me become a better teacher and improve my wellness.
My biggest takeaway from this experience was that even in the different contexts and
cultures of the world, there are still many similarities with the “big” issues we face. Although teaching and the context of education are different everywhere, the idea of teacher attrition and well-being is something that needs more attention and more research at the global level. This experience helped me recognize where the education system is going, and I hope to be part of the positive change as education continues to evolve.
Kevin: The highlight for me this year was the student gathering that represented 13 different post-secondary institutions coming together to speak about the sustainability of the education professions. It was enlightening to hear the similarities and differences that presented themselves in our presentations and professional discussions. What a great opportunity for students and faculty to come together and learn from each other as we attempt to make the profession of teacher education a sustainable and life-fulfilling endeavour.
Kevin, Hayley and Kyle agree that attending the conference has broadened their understanding of well-being. For example, they reflect on how they learned that well-being is centred around equity and justice in Mexico.
This summer school is attended by faculty and students from an international audience, including Belgium, The Netherlands, Italy, Argentina, the United States of America, Mexico, South Africa, Vietnam, and Canada. The experience of meeting faculty and teacher candidates from all over the globe was invaluable.
Kyle Joseph and Hayley McInnes are fourth-year teacher candidates in the Bachelor of Education - Elementary program. They are also employed as part-time research assistants for Dr. O’Connor’s study Hybrid Spaces within a Professional Development School Context funded by a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Grant (SSHRC). The research team presented the keynote at the conference, titled Thinking Outside the Classroom: The Benefits of Outdoor Education on Mental Health and Well-Being. The presentation focused on their experiences learning about well-being through coursework and practicum experience. Here are excerpts from their experiences:
Kyle: I was able to gain insight into alternative approaches to not only teacher wellbeing but also to pedagogical practice from several other countries. The culmination of this insight was during our trips to schools in Cologne. I had the opportunity to tour a German-English bilingual school and talk to several teachers about their experiences teaching as native English speakers in Germany. It was professionally impactful to see how the German school system is structured and what education looks like halfway around the world.
Professionally, the experience of presenting at an international conference was immensely rewarding. A significant personal/professional milestone for me was the opportunity to stand before a global audience and deliver a lecture on our research and its implications for teacher wellbeing. I was thrilled and proud to present what leaps in practice we’re taking at Mount Royal.
Hayley: Teacher educators from all over the world helped open my eyes to the importance of well-being and the different aspects of wellness. Through workshops, I learned the importance of learning resilience as a pre-service teacher to improve wellness. I learned that continual reflection on my resiliency as a pre-service teacher will help me become a better teacher and improve my wellness.
My biggest takeaway from this experience was that even in the different contexts and
cultures of the world, there are still many similarities with the “big” issues we face. Although teaching and the context of education are different everywhere, the idea of teacher attrition and well-being is something that needs more attention and more research at the global level. This experience helped me recognize where the education system is going, and I hope to be part of the positive change as education continues to evolve.
Kevin: The highlight for me this year was the student gathering that represented 13 different post-secondary institutions coming together to speak about the sustainability of the education professions. It was enlightening to hear the similarities and differences that presented themselves in our presentations and professional discussions. What a great opportunity for students and faculty to come together and learn from each other as we attempt to make the profession of teacher education a sustainable and life-fulfilling endeavour.
Kevin, Hayley and Kyle agree that attending the conference has broadened their understanding of well-being. For example, they reflect on how they learned that well-being is centred around equity and justice in Mexico.
This summer school is attended by faculty and students from an international audience, including Belgium, The Netherlands, Italy, Argentina, the United States of America, Mexico, South Africa, Vietnam, and Canada. The experience of meeting faculty and teacher candidates from all over the globe was invaluable.
