UNews - Dawn McBride

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge experts available to help families slide back into the school routine

caroline.zentner — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 16:29:58 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge has several experts from the Faculty of Education available to discuss the challenges and opportunities that come with getting students ready for the school year.

These experts can offer insight and suggestions for parents about topics like the province’s new math curriculum, the move away from grade-based report cards, encouraging literacy, technology in education, and helping children become resilient.

School mathematics — teaching, learning, and assessment

Dr. Richelle Marynowskican provide information about the current mathematics teaching and learning directions in Alberta and how parents can help their students with math. She can also provide parents with information regarding teaching strategies that are effective in the math classroom. Her research interests also include classroom assessment practices and provincial examinations.

403-329-2269

richelle.marynowski@uleth.ca

Student report cards — a new look but one with more meaning

Dr. Carmen Mombourquettecan talk about the move away from letter grades and percentages on report cards to a system based on words, and explain the reasoning behind the move. He is also able to provide tips about how to help students get back into the learning groove, the issues that middle- and high-school-aged children can encounter with relationships, and how parents can best respond.

403-329-2018

carmen.mombourquette@uleth.ca

Help your child learn to love reading

Dr. Robin Bright, a literacy expert, can share pointers about ways parents and teachers can help children become avid readers. Her other areas of expertise include digital literacy, cyberbullying and helping school systems develop digital literacy policies.

403-329-2443

brightr@uleth.ca

Promoting resiliency in children

Dr. Dawn McBride, a registered psychologist, can offer practical suggestions on how to prepare children to return to school after a summer break. In addition, she can discuss how teachers and parents can use positive discipline principles to help children learn to manage their frustrations and anger appropriately. She can also address mental health issues, such as eating disorders, self-harm, depression and anxiety, experienced by some youth. Statistics from the Canadian Mental Health Association indicate that an estimated 10 to 20 per cent of Canadian youth are affected by a mental illness or disorder, the single most disabling group of disorders worldwide.

403-317-2877

Cell: 403-894-8460

dawn.mcbride@uleth.ca

From 3D Printing to computer apps that aid learning

Dr. Marlo Steed can discuss the role of technology in education, including 3D Printing, video creation, virtual reality and digital storytelling. Steed can speak about the ways technology can transform learning both in the classroom and at home.

403-329-2189

marlo.steed@uleth.ca

A voyage of self-discovery

trevor.kenney — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 22:26:39 +0000

Joanne Peterson was initially disappointed when she learned how many classes she'd have to take before she could pursue her master's of counselling degree. Now, having just graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in psychology (with distinction), she has a true appreciation for the breadth of her educational experience.

"When I learned I needed to complete 20 courses at the U of L before applying for my master's, I felt discouraged," says the 46-year-old Peterson, a mature student who returned to post-secondary school after being in the workforce for years. "But I can truly say that the undergraduate courses I have taken have taught me more about myself than I could ever have realized."

Aspiring to be a registered therapist, Peterson found herself in classes she would never have considered taking beforehand, such as neuroscience.

"I discovered I had a passion for learning about and understanding the brain and behaviour," she says. "Now, I can see it really benefitting my career as a therapist. I've enjoyed the process of learning and in doing so, I realize that the more I learn, the less I know. It is both humbling and exciting at the same time."

Joanne Peterson is learning more about herself than she'd ever imagined when she returned to school as a mature student.

Peterson immersed herself in the university experience, taking full advantage of the opportunities afforded her.

She took an applied study course that placed her as a volunteer at Martha's House, an independent living seniors' community, where she had the opportunity to study quality of life issues for seniors. Through that association, she was introduced to the Lethbridge Seniors' Forum and now is an active committee member.

Her applied study resulted in the creation of a series of four brochures that reflected quality of life topics most important to the residents of Martha's House. Packaged as a Navigation Guide for Seniors, the brochures are now being published and distributed by the City of Lethbridge.

This experience led Dr. Jennifer Mather (psychology) to encourage Peterson to write an honour's thesis (Seniors Views on Quality of Life), and she turned the difficult task into an excellent experience of self-discovery.

"She recognized my lack of confidence, even though I was carrying a very high GPA," says Peterson, who had to present her thesis to an audience of professors, administrators, fellow students and invited guests. "Without her encouragement, I don't believe I would have pushed myself to write a thesis and it turned out to be such a rewarding part of my university experience."

She was later invited to present her thesis findings to the boards of directors at St. Michael's Health Centre and the Green Acres Foundation.

Throughout her educational journey, Peterson saw time and again the supportive nature of U of L faculty and staff, something that was in stark contrast to her first post-secondary experience, years before at a much larger institution.

"In attending a smaller institution, my experience as a student was much more personal and hands-on than what I'd experienced when I attended the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta years back," she says. "The class sizes, particularly in the 3000 and 4000-level courses were often 20 to 40 students, allowing me to engage in discussions with my professors that greatly enhanced my learning. I also found the accessibility of my professors to be remarkable."

It's another reason why she will not hesitate to apply for the master's program.

"I intend to take this next year as a professional development year and seek work experience in the counselling field before applying for the 2014 cohort," she says. "The encouragement and advice I've been given from the Master's of Counselling program, particularly Dr. Blythe Shepard and Dr. Dawn McBride, has really made an impact in my continued pursuit of a career as a therapist."

This story first appeared in the June 2013 edition of the Legend. For a look at the full issue in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Graduate students honoured with research awards

trevor.kenney — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 18:34:27 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge celebrated the achievements of 21 graduate students last night at the 2012 Graduate Student Research Awards reception.

"These graduate students are exemplars of academic achievement," says Dr. Robert Wood, dean of the School of Graduate Studies. "The exciting academic work that they do is advancing the frontiers of knowledge and creativity, and it cultivates and builds an essential foundation for our growing reputation as a comprehensive university. Indeed, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community is immensely proud of these accomplished graduate student scholars."

Following is a list of the 2012 award winners.

Alberta Innovates Health Solutions
Erin Zelinski
(Robert Sutherland)
Neuroscience

Corinne Sidler
(Olga Kovalchuk)
Biological Sciences

Alberta Innovates - Technology Futures
Aaron Mullin
(Craig Coburn)
Geography

Alberta Cancer Foundation
Lidiya Luzhna
(Olga Kovalchuk)
Biological Sciences

Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate Scholarship Doctoral (NSERC)
Patrick Barks
(Robert Laird)
Biological Sciences

Andrew Hudson
(Camron Goater & Tony Russell)
Biological Sciences

Jenni Karl
(Ian Whishaw)
Neuroscience

Alexander Graham Bell Canada Graduate Scholarship Master (NSERC)
Kathryn Kuchapski
(Joseph Rasmussen)
Biological Sciences

Kirsten Rosler
(Hans-Joachim Wieden)
Chemistry and Biochemistry

Aaron Mullin
(Craig Coburn)
Geography

Natalie Freeman
(Louise Barrett & Peter Henzi)
Psychology

Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarship Master's (SSHRC)
Gillian Ayers
(Claudia Malacrida)
Sociology

Leslie Bush
(Robbin Derry)
Management

Stacey Leavitt
(Michelle Helstein & Sean Brayton)
Kinesiology & Physical Education

Daniel Rutledge
(Sameer Deshpande)
Management

Rachel Shields
(Jason Laurendeau)
Sociology

Mark Bruce
(Dawn McBride)
Education

School of Graduate Studies Fellowship
Darcy Best
(Hadi Kharaghani)
Mathmatics & Computer Science

Health Quality Council of Alberta
Shannon Vandenberg
(Judith Kulig)
Health Sciences

endMS
Brietta Gerrard
(Artur Luczak)
Neuroscience

Alberta Gambling Research Institute
Scott Oberg
(Matthew Tata)
Neuroscience

UNews - Dawn McBride

��Ѹ�����Դ���߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge experts available to help families slide back into the school routine

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A voyage of self-discovery

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Graduate students honoured with research awards

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��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge experts available to help families slide back into the school routine