Required Courses
The first course in this cohort will be completed both asynchronously and synchronously (i.e. immersive, field-based experience). The remaining three courses are asynchronous in Mountain Time (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada). Dates and times are determined by the course instructor.
These are graduate-level, credit courses, requiring between five and ten hours of coursework per week in the fall and winter terms (13 weeks). Courses offered in the spring and summer terms are condensed (six and three weeks respectively), so the amount of time spent on coursework is increased. This includes time spent on readings, assignments, presentations (group and individual), and writing papers.
Note: you must take a course in the term for which you apply. Course offerings are dependent upon sufficient enrollment.
Summer Term
EDU 595 Integrating Agriculture into Curriculum: Field-Based Learning ★3
This course will immerse learners in experiential learning through lectures and field trips to a variety of agricultural settings (e.g. local food production facilities, UofA farm, local farm tours, greenhouses, industry field trips). This course will provide learners with opportunities for direct interaction with agri-sector experts so they can deepen their knowledge for exploration of cross-curricular connections between agriculture and Alberta curriculum. By experiencing agriculture firsthand, learners will enhance their ability to create engaging, real-world learning opportunities that resonate with their K-12 students in both rural and urban contexts.
Note: one week of this course will be face-to-face at the University of Alberta. Details will be posted to this site once they are finalized.
Fall Term
EDU 595 Foundations of Teacher Leadership and Experiential Learning ★3
This course will explore foundational theories, models, and research in teacher leadership and experiential learning to provide a foundation for integrating hands-on learning into K-12 instruction. Learners will explore key thinkers in these fields and examine practical applications for effective implementation in diverse classroom contexts.
Winter Term
EDU 595 Agricultural Literacy for Teachers ★3
Agriculture is more than raising livestock and growing grain. Agricultural literacy encompasses a “deeper understanding of the economic, social, science and technology aspects of [agriculture] coupled with the ability to synthesize and communicate such knowledge” (Cosby et al., 2022, p. 12). This course will afford learners the opportunity to deepen their knowledge about agriculture as it relates to our food, fiber, and energy systems; science, technology, and environment; health and lifestyle; and culture, society, economy, and geography. The intent of this course is to provide them with knowledge to increase their confidence when preparing learning opportunities for their students.
Spring Term
EDU 595 Curriculum-Mapping for School-Based Agriculture: Applied Project ★3
In this culminating course, learners will focus on designing and mapping curriculum that integrates agricultural education with provincial curriculum. Learners will align school-based agricultural projects with Alberta’s curriculum in core and complementary subjects culminating in a school-based experiential project. The course will provide the opportunity for learners to apply theoretical knowledge and practical skills gained throughout the certificate program.