Extended Education Summer Institute investigates human rights and social justice in action

Alternative Approaches to Education class photo

From July 3 – 16th, Summer Session offered a 6 credit hour Institute through the Faculty of Education called Alternative Approaches to Education in a Changing World: Human rights and social justice in action. This institute was taught by Nathalie Piquemal, Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education, Cara Zurzolo, and Sister Cyril Mooney, an internationally recognized educational innovator who is bringing quality education to the urban and rural poor of India.

This course examined issues of equity, social justice, global citizenship and human rights in the context of alternative approaches to education in both global and local contexts. This course asked students to participate in a conceptual analysis of these issues, with special attention to their implications for both teacher practice and teacher education. Using examples of alternative approaches to education from both local initiatives (i.e., mentoring programs for Aboriginal youths) and international experiences (i.e., mentoring and peer-teaching in India, service learning in Ethiopia, etc.), this course invited participants to consider broader issues of social justice and global citizenship in the context of their own practice and professional development.

Students participating in Poster Session

As a final expression of what the students learnt, students were asked to map out a community of interest to them through a framework of assets and deficits. Through ongoing collaboration and ethnographic inquiry, students developed community maps using photo voice, with special attention to education, social justice and equity. Through this assignment, participants were able to articulate the life experiences to which students are exposed, and which influence their education within a social justice framework. Specific projects have included sites from K-12, post-secondary, and rural contexts.

For more information please contact the course instructor, Nathalie Piquemal at Piquemal@cc.umanitoba.ca or visit the Extended Education Summer Institute webpage.