What is the reputation for the University of Calgary's (UofC) Master of Teacher Progr - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

mc0709 · 03-18-2010, 04:03 PM

Hi,

I have a B.Sc. in Biology (from UofA), but have decided I would like to try teaching and I would prefer to be living in Calgary, except I have been hearing mixed things about the program. Would you recommend the UofC MT program? Can anyone expand on reputation/their experiance with the UofC's Master of Teacher Program (B.Ed after degree program)?

Thanks for your response!

ma-skis.com · 03-18-2010, 04:13 PM

I hear it's only as good as you want to make it. Since it's pass/fail, it's up to you to decide how much work you want to do, or if you just want to straddle the line between the two.

Small classes are a plus, so lots of opportunity to get involved, but that also makes it interesting in terms of good profs / bad profs, real luck of the draw in this regard. Small classes are wonderful when you have a great teacher, but terrible when they suck... that's probably the biggest reason why you hear mixed things about it.

It does count as two years of education on the salary grid when you're done though, I know a couple teachers who did the 10 month program and it only counted as 1 for them.

bcb · 03-18-2010, 04:28 PM

As above, it's really only as good as you make it. That being said, if you have no hope as a teacher, They will fail you.

I graduated in '08, so if you have any questions, PM me.

mc0709 · 03-18-2010, 04:31 PM

It's only on a pass or fail system? I was not aware of that.

I've heard that the program does not prepare teachers very well for the 'real life' classroom - such as preparing lesson plans and matrices etc. and the program is full of irrelevant theory - so school boards have been avoiding UofC grads in regards to hiring.

All lies? Some truth?

Rhyme · 03-18-2010, 04:49 PM

I know several people who are in the department as faculty and students. The U of C will be going back to a more traditional B.Ed program soon. The whole pass/fail system will revert back to a standard grading system. Moreover, the whole department is going through quite a bit of change. Depending on when you apply and when they're through making these changes, it will be a whole new game in the Education faculty.

On that note, have you thought about distant learning? I've heard good things about U of L, but I don't know if they have a distance option, or a B.Ed option for those who have a degree already.

ricoFlame · 03-18-2010, 04:54 PM

I am also a MT program grad. I loved it and got a job right out of it, but it is true, it's going to a more traditional system...it's funny when I was at the U of L, people complained about all the philosophical BS they had to learn...when I was at the U of C people complained about all the touchy-feely stuff. Be prepared for 2 years of whining no matter where you go.

Sample00 · 03-18-2010, 05:37 PM

my wife just completed her Masters in Administrative Education from Waldens University in the USA. its recognized by the ATA here and its a very good program.

Eric Vail · 03-18-2010, 05:49 PM

The U of C Education program is not very well respected in Calgary schools. That is it's reputation. Lethbridge has the best reputation in Alberta, and Edmonton is #2. This does not mean that Boards won't hire U of C grads, or than there aren't any good teachers coming from that program. It is looked on as a poor program.

One beef I would have with it is the name of the program. It is a Bachelor Degree program and they call it "Master of Teaching". That's pretty cheesy.

Hack&Lube · 03-18-2010, 05:53 PM

My friend did the UofC program, CBE didn't hire him. He had many complaints about the touchy-feely part of it. It seemed like he was always writing papers on bullying or psychological things and theory and subjective crap instead of hands on teaching. He had taught English in Japan and had a great experience with that and really wanted to help kids but the UofC program soured his entire outlook on education because they try to make it something that it isn't, more of an academic study on teaching/development theory than practical teaching and mentoring.

chid · 03-18-2010, 05:57 PM

I am mid way through the program (almost done my first year) and the program is inquiry based, and pass/fail. I've had issues with the lack of practical application and inconsistency. We all take the same classes at the UofC but depending on the prof, you may get a 20 page paper, or just a presentation, or nothing.

The best education is from the practicum, and asking tons of questions, but as many other posters have mentioned the program still doesn't have a great reputation. Many of us in it currently are stressed about getting jobs next year as we know the stigma it has.

ma-skis.com · 03-18-2010, 07:57 PM

I have a large number of friends who were hired out of th UC program. I'm curious if their are other factors at play with people not being hired. I heard some rumours about a hiring freeze or something about too many teachers right now.

chid · 03-18-2010, 08:03 PM

This year there were many job openings for teachers with a second language, those teachers were hired first.

Yeah_Baby · 03-18-2010, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ma-skis.com

I have a large number of friends who were hired out of th UC program. I'm curious if their are other factors at play with people not being hired. I heard some rumours about a hiring freeze or something about too many teachers right now.

It also depends on what your training is. like chid said, second languages, special ed etcetera. Also the setting and board you apply to makes a big difference. If you want to work in YYC or YEG best you'll probably get is subbing. There are other boards out there however.

Anyways, as much as I hate sitting in EDPY or EDIT I think the program here in Edmonton is awesome. I really don't think you can argue with amount of time we do in terms of our practicums.

mc0709 · 03-18-2010, 10:16 PM

"I really don't think you can argue with amount of time we do in terms of our practicums." Well, to be fair, UofA seems pretty standard with other universities for the amount of practicum hours you complete. UofL does twice the amount of practicum than any other school I have come across.

tanguay'sstillgood · 03-18-2010, 10:25 PM

I did it a few years ago, and it really was bad. Nearly everything I learned that was actually useful was from my practicum. I had great practicum teachers to work with, so that helped, but others weren't so lucky. Not a single person I knew coming out of there (and no, I am actually not exaggerating) was happy with it. The most common view was that it was two years so you would pay 4 semesters of tuition, not so you would get 4 semesters of education. The classes at the university were almost entirely useless to what I have applied in the classroom since I left. Honestly, how much do you expect to get out of it when the prof just makes you buy corny-ass books that HE authored? I could go on, but I think you understand my outlook on it. There is a reason why so many teachers now refuse to take student teachers from that program.

I also disagree with the people who say you get out what you put in. I believe what you get out depends far more on where you are placed and which prof you get for your filler courses at the university. No matter how much I put in, most of that crap was not going to be useful in my day-to-day teaching.

That being said, I got a job right away (probably due to my practicum experiences being good) and have had one ever since.

arloiginla · 03-18-2010, 10:48 PM

I'm doing it right now.

Too much philosophical BS, not enough practical teaching happening. It has a bad reputation and rightfully so. Their whole hangup with "inquiry" is ######ed.

That being said, the classes I've had so far have had some pretty lax professors in terms of workload so it hasn't been too bad. I've heard some horror stories from some colleagues with different profs.

Yeah_Baby · 03-18-2010, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mc0709

"I really don't think you can argue with amount of time we do in terms of our practicums." Well, to be fair, UofA seems pretty standard with other universities for the amount of practicum hours you complete. UofL does twice the amount of practicum than any other school I have come across.

Then go to U of L. I didn't claim it was better at U of A. Just compared to U of C.

Russic · 03-18-2010, 10:56 PM

My wife completed it 3 years ago and her sentiments are similar. Classes were based around theory and largely taught by teachers who hadn't actually been in the public system. For this reason there was a lot of "each child is a unique little snowflake and you must adapt your teaching style to each one". After a week on the job my wife realized that's not exactly how it works in the real world. Being a teacher is hard work and you definitely need to strike a balance between meeting the needs of the students and meeting the needs of the school ... my wife feels the uofc program doesn't cover this because many involved in the teaching have never had to deal with a real classroom.

The upside (as was mentioned) is that she makes more than her peers because of the extra year. The pay is quite nice even though it's too much work for my liking.

Yeah_Baby · 03-18-2010, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russic

My wife completed it 3 years ago and her sentiments are similar. Classes were based around theory and largely taught by teachers who hadn't actually been in the public system. For this reason there was a lot of "each child is a unique little snowflake and you must adapt your teaching style to each one". After a week on the job my wife realized that's not exactly how it works in the real world. Being a teacher is hard work and you definitely need to strike a balance between meeting the needs of the students and meeting the needs of the school ... my wife feels the uofc program doesn't cover this because many involved in the teaching have never had to deal with a real classroom.

The upside (as was mentioned) is that she makes more than her peers because of the extra year. The pay is quite nice even though it's too much work for my liking.

Yeah, being a teacher is more a 'lifestyle choice' than it is a job.

flamingreen · 03-18-2010, 11:11 PM

I am finishing up my first year in the program and like others, my feelings are mixed. A lot of pie in the sky material but my practicum experience has been quite positive. Still debating if I will continue on for the second year but I have learned more about myself these last 8 months than any period in my life, take that for what it's worth.