EDMONTON, Alberta – On May 5, the biannual National Ukrainian Teachers’ Conference was held for the first time online. This new format facilitated productive discussions among teachers from across Canada, and from Ukraine as well.
The successful event was organized jointly by lead organizer Ukrainian Language Education Center (ULEC) of the Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies at the University of Alberta and the National Ukrainian Educational Council of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress. Representa-tives of five Canadian conference hosts in Winnipeg, Edmonton, Montreal, Toronto, and Regina/Saskatoon invested a great deal of effort towards the organization and successful implementation of this educators’ forum.
The plentiful conference program offered eight presentations that addressed various aspects of the topic “Learners at the Center of the Educational Process,” including those by Nadia Prokopchuk, Olena Kovpak and Olena Andrusyak (Regina/Saskatoon, Saskatchewan), Nataliya Nayavko and Luba Eshenko (Edmonton, Alberta), Nataliya Nayavko and Magda Tundak (Edmonton), Ulana Pidzamecky, Alla Nedashkivska and Olenka Bilash (Edmonton), Mariya Puhach and Viktoriya Shcherbak (Winnipeg), Evhenia Tatarenko (Winnipeg, Manitoba), Tammy Myskiw (Edmonton), Zoriana Magdach (Toronto), Nataliya Sovinska and Tatiana Sunak (Toronto).
Conference participants examined urgent issues that arise for Canadian teachers and educators in the classroom and in other learning environments. Other important issues included digital literacy and teacher preparedness for new technologies in their pedagogical work.
Oksana Levytskа, chair of the National Ukrainian Educational Council of the UCC, noted, “Today, every teacher is aware that education throughout the world needs transformations and innovations, which demand change in the organization of education, in the role of teachers and in the perceptions of education in society… Remember, changes will occur only through us!”
ULEC Director Dr. Nedashkivska emphasized that the “online format of the conference will promote the improvement of digital literacy among teachers and the development of methodologies for using technology in education, as well as the establishment of a community of practice for Ukrainian language educators.”
Part of the conference was devoted to coverage of a video competition “Learning Ukrainian – Rocks!” to promote learning Ukrainian, conceived by ULEC advisor Dr. Bilash and carried out by the Center. The competition winners were announced, and the participants had a chance to view the creative submissions.
The conference also recognized educators who have made a significant long-term contribution to the development of Ukrainian education in Canada. Program committee chair Dr. Bilash facilitated the awarding of prizes from the National Ukrainian Educational Council and ULEC. The Long-term Service Award for Outstanding Contributions to Ukrainian and Language Education in Canada was awarded to Marusia Petryshyn (Edmonton), Roma Franko (Saskatoon), Luba Zaraska (Toronto) and Zinaida Meievs’ka (Toronto).
ULEC
Winnipeg participants of the teachers’ conference.
The conference was conceived as a response to teacher requests concerning the necessity of continuing professional development through regular national educational forums in order to promote lasting interactions, shared experiences and master pedagogues.
The organizers feel that this online-based event will galvanize further productive discussions, cooperation and professional training for the community of educators.
Thanks went out to all members of the organizational and programming committees, with special thanks to Danny Maas, Nataliya Nayavko and Dr. Bilash for their behind the scenes work during the conference. Gratitude was expressed also to all sponsors, which continuously support the development of Ukrainian education in Canada. (The list of all supporters is available at https://www.ualberta.ca/canadian-institute-of-ukrainian-studies/centres-and-programs/ulec/ulec-news/2018/april/national-ukrainian-teachers-conference.)
To support ULEC’s projects, readers may go to https://www.ualberta.ca/canadian-institute-of-ukrainian-studies/centres-and-programs/ulec.