January 12, 2013 - 8:02pm
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, Jan. 18, 2013
NANAIMO, BC: Bachelor of Education students at Vancouver Island University will be hosting “Learning Centres Day” at two Nanaimo area elementary schools – Fairview and Georgia Avenue - on Monday, Jan. 21.
Education students will set up ‘learning centres’ in school gymnasiums aimed at kindergarten to grade seven students. The centres will be based on themes including science, mathematics, fine arts and physical education.
“Considerable time, thought, energy and money goes into creating these centres,” says VIU Education faculty member Bernie Krynowsky. “Learning Centres Day is part of the VIU tradition of making a contribution back to the elementary schools of Nanaimo and area.”
Student teachers, working in pairs, have spent weeks creating educational displays to engage students in hands-on learning activities.
“We’ve hosted Learning Centres Day at local elementary schools for the past 21 consecutive years,” says Krynowsky.
“We’ve had about 1,600 student teachers and more than 15,000 elementary students involved to date. It is a wonderful day of learning for both VIU student teachers and local elementary school children.”
VIU student teachers, all in their fifth year, plan, organize and prepare their physical centres, and work out the logistics of how to deal with students from variety of ages and learning abilities, says Krynowsky.
“Our student teachers will assess student learning while the activities are happening,” he adds. “They will also complete a critical written analysis of what they learn and what the elementary school students learn during the process.”
He says Learning Centre Day is always well received. “The elementary school children get pretty excited,” says Krynowsky. “The event creates a lot of energy. For local school children, it’s like having Science World or some type of museum display coming to their schools. Learning Centre Day seems to be a highlight of the year, not only for VIU Education students but for elementary school children.”
Learning Centres Day takes place at Fairview Elementary from 9 am to 1:30 pm and at Georgia Avenue from 9:30 am to 2:30 pm. For more information, contact Krynowsky at 250.753.3245, local 2160 or at Bernie.Krynowsky@viu.ca
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ABOUT VIU: Vancouver Island University is Canada’s west coast university. Known as a centre of excellence for teaching, learning and applied research, VIU offers a diverse range of certificate, diploma and undergraduate and master degree programs to more than 18,000 students on campuses in Nanaimo, Powell River and Cowichan, and at the Parksville-Qualicum Centre. For more information visit www.viu.ca
Tags: In the Community
