Studies/Études : The Rural Practicum: Preparing a Quality Teacher Workforce for Rural and Regional Australia

Source: Journal of research in rural education.
"Communities play a critical role in supporting pre-service teachers during rural and regional professional experience. This support, coupled with access to teacher educators and university resources, appears to positively influence graduate attitudes toward taking up a rural appointment."

"These are among the key findings to emerge from open-ended responses within 263 surveys completed for the Rethinking Teacher Education for Rural and Regional Sustainability—Renewing Teacher Education for Rural and Regional Australia project (TERRAnova). The national surveys, collected annually from 2008-2010, monitored the impact of state-based financial incentives designed to promote rural and regional professional experience. Findings discussed in this article have implications for teacher educators and rural school leaders as they work in partnership with communities to support pre-service teachers on rural and regional practicum."

Kline, Jodie, White, Simone and Lock, Graeme 2013, The rural practicum : preparing a quality teacher workforce for rural and regional Australia, Journal of research in rural education, vol. 28, no. 3, pp. 1-13.

WWW: www.jrre.psu.edu

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Thesis/Thèse : Perspectives of Northern Researchers, Residents and Educators on Science Education and Outreach in Yukon

Source: Dalhousie University.
"International Polar Year 2007-2008 renewed interest in and funding for circumpolar research. One unique element of this International Polar Year was the focus on education and outreach initiatives. This study explores outreach stakeholders’ perspectives on conducting science outreach with northern Canadian schools."

"A total of sixty semistructured interviews were conducted with northern researchers, residents and educators to determine culturally appropriate and pedagogically suitable methods for educational outreach initiatives in the Canadian north."

Frances Kathryn Pottle Ross (2012). Perspectives of Northern Researchers, Residents and Educators on Science Education and Outreach in Yukon, Canada. School for Resource and Environmental Studies. Dalhousie University. Halifax, Nova Scotia.

WWW: dalspace.library.dal.ca

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Call for papers/Appels de communications: Developing Connections for Sustainable Futures – Networking the Bush

Source: Society for the Provision of Education in Rural Australia.
SPERA, Australia’s leading professional development or learning organisation and advocate for rural education invites you to their 28th national conference to be hosted at the University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba.

This National Conference will bring together a range of teachers, school administrators, teacher educators, academics, pre-service teachers, community groups and organisations and parents who are passionate about rural education.

The 28th SPERA National conference will be a key means of building and strengthening Australia’s rural network and in doing so draw together an increasing body of work focused on improving education outcomes in the bush.

Sub Themes
· Building and sustaining professional networks
· Bridging the gap – pre-service education; building partnerships with rural and remote communities;
· Networking universities to the bush
· Showcasing good regional, rural and remote education and training practice
· Expanding the network – local, national, international (global)
· Strengthening and networking rural education research

Deadline for submission of abstracts and proposals – April 23, 2012

More details on the call for papers.

WWW: www.spera.asn.au

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RuralTube : Teaching in Rural America

Source: U.S. Department of Education.
Four Nationally Board Certified teachers talk about the rewards and challenges of their profession in rural America.

These rural teachers describe challenges with funding, a lack of technology, and the need to elevate the teaching profession while expanding curriculum in order to prepare students for a 21st century economy.

Watch video.

Read more on the video.

WWW: www.ed.gov/blog

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Call for papers/Appels de communications : Impacts of Community Engagement: CACSL Conference

Source: Canadian Alliance for Community Service-Learning.
The University of Saskatchewan is proud to host the 2012 CACSL Community Service-Learning Conference on May 10, 11, and 12. The conference will focus on the impacts of community engagement, how all stakeholders involved in CSL are affected by CSL practices and programs.

Our hope is to spark conversation, facilitate the development of potential research alliances, and share practices so that we can learn from authentic engagement with each other. More information on the conference is available at www.usask.ca/cacsl2012.

Individual submissions are welcome, and joint submissions from stakeholder groups – community organizations, faculty and academics, and staff and practitioners – are highly encouraged. Proposals should be submitted by one person providing contact information with participants listed, up to two submissions per key contact person. Proposals due January 31, 2012.

All proposals must follow the guidelines as they will appear in the submission form (available soon). Each proposal will be peer-reviewed by at least two reviewers, and will receive notification regarding acceptance by no later than March 13, 2012.

Read the full call for proposals.

WWW: http://blog.communityservicelearning.ca/

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Studies/Études : The Professional Development of Rural ESL Instructors

Source: AJER.
This article reports "perceived professional development (PD) needs, interests, and challenges of ESL instructors in rural Alberta from the perspectives of instructors and administrators."

The authors "collected questionnaire responses from instructors who taught in programs offered in five rural locations with a large recent influx of newcomers requiring ESL instruction. This was followed by focus-group interviews with the instructors and individual interviews with their program administrators. The findings highlight the importance of PD designed to meet the specific needs of rural instructors and to facilitate effective ESL teaching and learning in their communities."

Marilyn L. Abbott, Marian J. Rossiter. The Professional Development of Rural ESL Instructors: Program Administrators’ and Instructors’ Views. Alberta Journal of Educational Research Vol 57, No 2 (2011).

Read full article.

WWW: http://ajer.synergiesprairies.ca/ajer/index.php/ajer/index

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Thesis/Thèse : Where does the small rural school stand? Exploring different perspectives

Source: Queen’s University.
"The closure of small rural schools is the single most implemented educational change reform in rural areas of Canada (Wallin, 2007). Similarly, throughout the 20th century, rural school consolidation was the single, most frequently implemented educational policy in the United States (Herzog & Pittman, 1995). This study explores the why and how of this phenomenon."

"Rural education research has indicated that small rural schools across North America share common challenges unique to the rural situation (Bard, Gardener & Wieland, 2006; Blaine, Pace & Robinson, 2004; Mulcahy, 1993; Wallin, 2007). Many rural education researchers concur that some of these challenges arise from social, economic and political differences between urban and rural settings, but primarily, they stem from the consequence of globalization on trade, labour relations, regulatory control, or governmental rules and guidelines (Howley, 1997; Wallin, 2007)."

Carolyne Marie Anne Thompson. 2001. Where does the small rural school stand? Exploring different perspectives. Faculty of Education. Queen’s University.

Read the full document.

WWW: http://qspace.library.queensu.ca

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Thesis/Thèse : Rural routes: place–based music education in two rural Canadian communities

Source: Queen‘s University.
"The purpose of this research study was to profile exemplary rural music programs, examining how their components and contexts contributed to a deep sense of place for students, teachers, and the community."

"By examining these programs through interview, observational, and questionnaire data, the conditions that support these programs and the perceptions of stakeholders were garnered in order to create a rich view of music education programs that could inform the development of high-quality music programs in other rural communities."

Julia Elaine Brook. 2001. Rural routes: place–based music education in two rural Canadian communities. Faculty of Education. Queen‘s University.

Read the full document.

WWW: http://qspace.library.queensu.ca/

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Studies/Études : Attracting, Preparing, and Retaining Under-Represented Populations in Rural and Remote Alberta-North Communities

Source: International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning.
This Alberta-North and Athabasca University study uses the advice and educational experiences of northern former and present students, and of other community members, to identify ways of better attracting, preparing, and retaining under-represented populations in northern Alberta communities through provision and training in the use of distance delivery methods.

"The research reported here commences with a review of the literature to investigate the following: 1) the contribution distance education makes globally to learning access in remote areas (and resulting economic growth for under-served populations); 2) how support is provided to retain isolated students; and 3) the help needed to assist remote students to complete distance programs. Community consultations with social service and education agencies in three communities were conducted in order to obtain their perspectives about what helps to attract and support students to educational programs and the barriers students typically encounter, which might be mitigated by distance methods. Finally, a survey was designed and distributed in 87 Alberta-North communities in northern Alberta and across Canada’s Northwest Territories to add perspective to the consultation results."

Read study.

WWW: www.irrodl.org

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Events/Événements:KIS Showcase - New Horizons in Rural Economic Development - Apr 12, 2011

Source: The Monieson Centre
On April 12, 2011, The Monieson Centre will host the third annual KIS Showcase. This day of learning and discussion will celebrate the many successes of this research partnership between The Monieson Centre and the communities of rural Eastern Ontario.
Included in the program will be examples of rural business best practices, discussion of the future of rural entrepreneurialism, and lessons learned in building university-community partnerships. Following the event, presentations and videos from the day's proceedings will be made available over the course of the summer.

This is a must-attend event for business people, community leaders, economic developers, and researchers with an interest in rural economic development.

Click here for free on-line registration.

View the Agenda

Conference / Venue Information:
April 12, 2011
9:00am-4:30pm
BMO Financial Group Atrium, Goodes Hall, Queen's University

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Events/Événements : Community-Campus Collaborations: What Makes Them Work?

Source: Canadian Alliance for Community Service-Learning.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011. Join colleagues from CACSL and the community for a day of discussion and information about community-campus collaborations before CU Expo 2011.

Symposium Highlights:

· Keynote speaker, Randy Stoecker, co-editor of The Un­heard Voices

· Panel discussion on Measurable CSL Impacts

· Consultation session in support of Community First: Impacts of Community Engagement

Symposium Details:
·Date: Tuesday, May 10, 2011

·Time: 8:30 am—3:30 pm

·Location: Wilfrid Laurier University (in association with CU Expo)

·Cost: $75 members; $100 non-members (*includes breakfast and lunch)

Online Registration

WWW: www.communityservicelearning.ca

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Reports/Rapports : Dropping Out: Who Leaves High School, and What Can We Do About it?

Source: C.D. Howe Institute.
"While Canada has made progress in the past two decades in terms of lowering
high-school dropout rates, those rates remain unacceptably high for boys and
certain groups". "Immigrants, those living in rural areas and Aboriginals exhibit a worrisome lack of educational achievement compared with the Canadian average".

The author recommends strategies to address the problem. Among them: education authorities should collect and use reliable data on student performance in core subjects, and should experiment aggressively on initiatives targeted to improve education outcomes for vulnerable groups of Canadians.

Report.

WWW: www.cdhowe.org

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Data/Données : Northern Community Research Tool

Source: Centre for the North.
The Northern Community Research Tool provides information about some 800 Northern communities; information can be extracted - and mapped - for nearly 90 indicators, for one, two or three indicators at a time.

Indicators are classified under the following headings:

* Demography - age, gender, Aboriginal identity and language, population
* Economy - income, economic diversity, unemployment rate, employment by industry
* Education - college and high school graduation, literacy rates, schools
* Geography - latitude and longitude
* Health - employment in health care sector, prevalence of chronic diseases, mortality rates, life expectancy, birth weight, obesity, smoking
* Housing -value of dwelling, number of residents per home, households in need of major repair
* Society - lone-parent families, voter turnout

Access the Northern Community Research Tool

Webinars on the Northern Community Research Tool

WWW: www.centreforthenorth.ca

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Events/Événements : The Transformation of Rural Schools into 21st Century Education Centers

Source: Wisconsin Rural Schools Alliance.
February 16-17, 2011. An annual two-day conference held in February, the WIRSA conference addresses issues affecting and relating to rural schools and communities in Wisconsin and throughout the United States.

Conference Schedule and registration.

WWW: www.uwosh.edu/ruralschools

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Presentations/Présentations : Strategies to Promote Rural School Sustainability

Source: RuralBC Secretariat and Local Government Department.
Particularly in rural areas, a school is a focal point in the community, serving children, youth and families, providing public space, offering programs, hosting events, building social connections, and providing a hub for many facets of community
life.

Schools are key in developing community connections and pride in the accomplishments of community members. While a rural school can create social cohesion in a community, its closure can negatively impact that same community’s social fabric and sense of identity. In addition to the impact of losing the public space and social connections provided by the school, school closures present a signifi cant deterrent to families staying in the community or moving to it. School closures may aff ect property values, businesses, and community viability. So how can communities take action to help their schools remain sustainable? How can municipal governments and local community groups work together with their local schools and boards of education to make it possible for their schools to remain open?

The session will illustrate how, Neighbourhood Learning Centres and the co-location of community and local government services in schools can serve to unite a community; build relationships between schools, local governments, and service providers; and turn unused school space into vibrant community assets that enhance the sustainability of schools and communities, both urban and rural.

The session will present two success stories of communities that co-located services within schools and used partnerships and innovative approaches to keep schools in their communities. School district and local government representatives will share their stories of collaboration and partnerships, and speak about the resulting change in their communities.

Video
Presentation.

WWW: www.ruralbc.gov.bc.ca

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Events/Événements : Rural Futures Matter: Ideas and Actions for a Sustainable Australia

Source: Flinders University, School of Education.
The Sidney Myer Chair of Rural Education and Communities in partnership with the Society for the Provision of Education for Rural Australia (SPERA) and Rural Education Forum Australia (REFA) will hold a National Summit from September 21 to 23 at Flinders University in 2011. The summit will be an open event.

The main outcome of the summit will be a set of recommendations for advancing the focus of the summit- Rural Futures Matter- for rural communities, individuals and for the nation as a whole.

The recommendations will be produced via a three stage process.

* The first stage involves a 30 minute Critical Input from a researcher or expert, or a representative of an organization or body, with some of the input oriented towards actions/solutions and framing of a recommendation or recommendations.
* The second phase involves summit participants processing the inputs and the recommendations in small groups.
* The third phase involves brief reporting back to the full summit and prioritising recommendations.

Program Summit 2011.

WWW: www.flinders.edu.au/ehl/education/rural/rural.cfm

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Studies/Études : Large urban, Small urban and Rural Students

Source: MESA Project.
"Policy makers are particularly interested in the experiences of students from rural backgrounds who often encounter a unique set of challenges upon entry to post-secondary education (PSE)."

The Longitudinal Survey of Low Income Students (L-SLIS), created to measure the effects of the Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation’s Access Bursary, offers a unique combination of information pertaining to students’ post-secondary education (PSE) experiences and methods of financing PSE. This research brief uses the L-SLIS to compare students from three different categories of community size:
1. Less than 10, 000 people (‘rural’ for short),
2. Between 10,000 and 100,000 people (‘small urban’ for short),
3. Greater than 100, 000 people (‘large urban’ for short).

Read study.

WWW: www.mesa-project.org

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Events/Événements : Annual Rural Service Learning Summit

Source: Canadian Alliance for Community Service - Learning.
Wednesday - Friday, November 10-12, 2010, Siena Retreat Center, Racine, WI. The members of the Rural Alliance for Service Learning (RASL) invite you to attend the 2nd Annual Rural Service Learning Summit and help us to explore ways in which we can encourage, enhance, and study the role of service learning in building a healthier and more vibrant rural America.

This meeting will bring together nationally recognized practitioners and researchers in rural service learning to develop the following:

• A global research agenda for rural service-learning
• A global model for rural service-learning programs
• A number of collaborative rural initiatives
• A call-to-action for colleges, universities, and service-learning organizations
• A message for our legislators about the importance of rural issues

Summit agenda.

WWW: www.wicampuscompact.org/RSL_Summit10.php

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Presentations/Présentations : Impact of Community Service-Learning for Rural and Remote Communities

Source: Canadian Alliance for Community Service-Learning.
Community Service-Learning projects have impacts in many aspects of community. On May 27, 2010 CACSL and Agriculture Canada`s Rural Secretariat teamed up to share stories of community service-learning project impacts in rural and remote communities across Canada.


Community Service-Learning Overview (PDF)

What is it? How does it work? How do I get involved?

The Batawa Project- Carleton University (PDF)
A brief overview of a multi-disciplinary, multifaceted, multiyear community, private, and university partnership.

Supporting Rural Communities- University of Sherbrooke (PDF)
Version Français

More presentations

Comments or questions about CSL in rural and remote communities, about the specific projects, or tell us about your project- what was the need, what did you do, and what were the outcomes and learning?

Contact:
Canadian Alliance for Community Service-Learning
2128 Dunton Tower
Carleton University
1125 Colonel By Drive
Ottawa, ON, K1S 5B6

e: info@communityservicelearning.ca
t: 613-520-2600 Ext 8241 - f: 613-520-3561

About the Canadian Alliance for Community Service-Learning (CACSL)
The Canadian Alliance for Community Service-Learning (CACSL) supports, educates and networks to ensure the effective growth of CSL in Canada. Our vision is students, educators and communities learning and working together to strenghten individuals and society.

WWW: http://communityservicelearning.ca

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RuralTube : potential of videoconferencing in rural education

Source: Hanna Learning Centre.
Hanna Learning Centre executive director Jann Beeston shares her vision of how high-definition video-conferencing will create new learning opportunities in rural Alberta.


Video.

WWW: www.hannalearning.com

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