We live in a world marked by constant change. We are linked in time, place and space to individuals around the globe. In a country as culturally diverse as Canada it is inevitable that issues of globalization and multiculturalism surface in educational realms. As educators it is imperative that we provide our students with opportunities to explore global and multicultural concepts as they impact them on local and international levels. The study of these concepts lends itself more easily to social studies curricula. Thus, an examination of Saskatchewan social studies curricula at the middle level over a period of time (1978- 1999) served as a tool to determine the impact globalization and multiculturalism have had on the curriculum. The review of the literature revealed the following issues: both global and multicultural education are difficult to define, resulting in difficulty implementing both these concepts in the classroom. Both concepts became more prominent in Canada during the 1970s and 1980s. While globalization and multiculturalism are different concepts, they do contain commonalities. These commonalities were used to determine the impact globalization and multiculturalism have had on the curriculum. Four main stages were found to exist that describe the common elements of the two concepts: equality, awareness, critical response and empowerment. Content analysis methodology was used to accurately interpret the curriculum documents that were analyzed, while grounded theory served as a framework for conducting the research. Key word counts were performed, followed by an examination of the word in the context it was placed in. Once examinations of all the curricula were conducted for each grade and year separately they were analyzed individually and then together. The findings revealed the following themes: the 1978 curriculum was not influenced by globalization and multiculturalism, and while the 1987/88 and 1999 curricula do embrace elements of globalization and multiculturalism they only do so in certain stages of the model- mainly awareness and equality. In the conclusion, implications on education and suggestions for future research are discussed.

We live in a world marked by constant change. We are linked in time, place and space to individuals around the globe. In a country as culturally diverse as Canada it is inevitable that issues of globalization and multiculturalism surface in educational realms. As educators it is imperative that we provide our students with opportunities to explore global and multicultural concepts as they impact them on local and international levels. The study of these concepts lends itself more easily to social studies curricula. Thus, an examination of Saskatchewan social studies curricula at the middle level over a period of time (1978- 1999) served as a tool to determine the impact globalization and multiculturalism have had on the curriculum. The review of the literature revealed the following issues: both global and multicultural education are difficult to define, resulting in difficulty implementing both these concepts in the classroom. Both concepts became more prominent in Canada during the 1970s and 1980s. While globalization and multiculturalism are different concepts, they do contain commonalities. These commonalities were used to determine the impact globalization and multiculturalism have had on the curriculum. Four main stages were found to exist that describe the common elements of the two concepts: equality, awareness, critical response and empowerment. Content analysis methodology was used to accurately interpret the curriculum documents that were analyzed, while grounded theory served as a framework for conducting the research. Key word counts were performed, followed by an examination of the word in the context it was placed in. Once examinations of all the curricula were conducted for each grade and year separately they were analyzed individually and then together. The findings revealed the following themes: the 1978 curriculum was not influenced by globalization and multiculturalism, and while the 1987/88 and 1999 curricula do embrace elements of globalization and multiculturalism they only do so in certain stages of the model- mainly awareness and equality. In the conclusion, implications on education and suggestions for future research are discussed.

The larger research project seeks to examine the role of technology and factors that influence its overall use and efficacy in supporting a community of teachers engaged in professional development. This thesis examines factors that appear to influence teacher participation in the online community of practice engaging in an overarching research project conducted by Dr. Balcaen and a team from UBC O Faculty of Education and funded by the Southern Alberta Professional Development Consortium (SAPDC). The two groups are acting in partnership for supporting and sustaining communities of practice in social studies in southern Alberta. SAPDC is allowing teachers release time to engage in the project while TC² is providing professional development for the participant teachers to become proficient at embedding TC² critical thinking tools into their classroom practices. Various technologies are used during this study as part of the design of providing professional development for the participants including supporting an online community presence. The guiding question for this thesis is: In a blended approach of face-to-face and online supported professional development for embedding critical thinking into the new social studies curriculum, what significant factors appear to influence teacher participation in the online community of practice during the first year of the project? Overall results during the first year of this project show that various technologies used during the project are valuable and effective in nurturing this community of practice by enabling and promoting collaboration, communication, and the completion and delivery of products to be used in teaching the new curriculum. I also examine negative factors that appear to prevent some teachers’ technology use and online participation and collaboration during this project. Findings show that there are several significant factors that influence participation in the online community and while some participants are reluctant to engage or enter the online environment, others have emerged as leaders and play a significant role in building and sustaining the community of practice. These results provide critical information about implementing and integrating an online component and using technology to sustain communities of practice engaged in this form of teacher professional development.

In this narrative inquiry, I explore student connections to personal and family history and how those connections, or lack thereof, shape their understandings of Social Socials content – in regard to how the students attend to history and each other. I believe there is a disconnect between the rationale of Social Studies programs, which advocates for the development of active and engaged citizens, and the way many programs are being delivered. To explore an alternative approach to Social Studies, I invited Grade 9 students and their teachers to share their perspectives about their engagement in a Roots Project which was intended to enrich students’ understanding and sense of identity, as individuals, as members of families and communities, and as citizens of the world. Research participants included three grade 9 students in a secondary school in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and three collaborating teachers, who happened to be at various stages of their careers: an experienced semi-retired teacher, a beginning teacher, and an education undergraduate student. In attending to both student and teacher voices, I found that the incorporation of personal and family history into the secondary Social Studies curriculum provided a range of opportunities for student growth in both personal and social realms. It provided students with an opportunity to step back from the formalized, prescribed curriculum and it exposed them to multiple ways of learning and knowing, through personal conversation about subject matter with which they had an organic connection. I found the importance of relationships, and the acknowledgement of family diversity and inclusion of all family forms and perspectives in the classroom, to be central to interweaving personal and family history into Social Studies subject matter.

The larger research project seeks to examine the role of technology and factors that influence its overall use and efficacy in supporting a community of teachers engaged in professional development. This thesis examines factors that appear to influence teacher participation in the online community of practice engaging in an overarching research project conducted by Dr. Balcaen and a team from UBC O Faculty of Education and funded by the Southern Alberta Professional Development Consortium (SAPDC). The two groups are acting in partnership for supporting and sustaining communities of practice in social studies in southern Alberta. SAPDC is allowing teachers release time to engage in the project while TC² is providing professional development for the participant teachers to become proficient at embedding TC² critical thinking tools into their classroom practices. Various technologies are used during this study as part of the design of providing professional development for the participants including supporting an online community presence. The guiding question for this thesis is: In a blended approach of face-to-face and online supported professional development for embedding critical thinking into the new social studies curriculum, what significant factors appear to influence teacher participation in the online community of practice during the first year of the project? Overall results during the first year of this project show that various technologies used during the project are valuable and effective in nurturing this community of practice by enabling and promoting collaboration, communication, and the completion and delivery of products to be used in teaching the new curriculum. I also examine negative factors that appear to prevent some teachers’ technology use and online participation and collaboration during this project. Findings show that there are several significant factors that influence participation in the online community and while some participants are reluctant to engage or enter the online environment, others have emerged as leaders and play a significant role in building and sustaining the community of practice. These results provide critical information about implementing and integrating an online component and using technology to sustain communities of practice engaged in this form of teacher professional development.

The larger research project seeks to examine the role of technology and factors that influence its overall use and efficacy in supporting a community of teachers engaged in professional development. This thesis examines factors that appear to influence teacher participation in the online community of practice engaging in an overarching research project conducted by Dr. Balcaen and a team from UBC O Faculty of Education and funded by the Southern Alberta Professional Development Consortium (SAPDC). The two groups are acting in partnership for supporting and sustaining communities of practice in social studies in southern Alberta. SAPDC is allowing teachers release time to engage in the project while TC² is providing professional development for the participant teachers to become proficient at embedding TC² critical thinking tools into their classroom practices. Various technologies are used during this study as part of the design of providing professional development for the participants including supporting an online community presence. The guiding question for this thesis is: In a blended approach of face-to-face and online supported professional development for embedding critical thinking into the new social studies curriculum, what significant factors appear to influence teacher participation in the online community of practice during the first year of the project? Overall results during the first year of this project show that various technologies used during the project are valuable and effective in nurturing this community of practice by enabling and promoting collaboration, communication, and the completion and delivery of products to be used in teaching the new curriculum. I also examine negative factors that appear to prevent some teachers’ technology use and online participation and collaboration during this project. Findings show that there are several significant factors that influence participation in the online community and while some participants are reluctant to engage or enter the online environment, others have emerged as leaders and play a significant role in building and sustaining the community of practice. These results provide critical information about implementing and integrating an online component and using technology to sustain communities of practice engaged in this form of teacher professional development. / Education, Faculty of (Okanagan) / Graduate

Graduate

It is becoming increasing important that teachers educate students about social studies in such a way so that students are interested and motivated by what they read. So often the curriculum is bombarded with physically heavy, incomprehensible, and traditional textbooks. Based upon the need for extensions to the social studies textbooks, my goal to establish a guideline for selecting quality graphic novels fitted for elementary social studies instruction. Therefore, my study will attempt to answer the question: What is an effective means of determining quality graphic novels? Following my adaptation and creation of rubrics established for determining the needs and qualities of graphic novels, I was able to establish and analyze several social studies content related graphic novels appropriate for the elementary social studies curriculum. This investigation into social studies graphic novels provided 18 graphic novels for possible use in the elementary social studies curriculum, 5 of which were deemed quality via the established rubrics. Furthermore, the investigation proved that the books deemed quality provided more than what was established as necessary within the rubrics. The additional information found within those texts was referred to as a postlude. One strong conclusion from this study is the large void of graphic novels that teachers might link with the social studies curriculum so as to enhance elementary social studies instruction.

Throughout secondary education, students are given opportunities to hone their leadership and collaboration skills with one another. Unfortunately, these opportunities are few and far between in the elementary school classroom. Since there are few leadership curriculum options available for teachers of elementary students, this study attempts to offer a fourth grade curriculum on leadership and collaboration within the context of the social studies curriculum. The study is comprised of a piece of historical fiction, journal prompts, and group activities. The text taught students about the colonization of Jamestown with a unique focus on collaboration between the Native Americans and Jamestown colonists. Small groups of students worked together to complete group activities where they were able to improve upon their ability to collaborate. This thesis provides insight toward the need for leadership curriculum in the elementary classroom and one curricular option with which to do so.

In this thesis I probe into British Columbia’s (BC) Kindergarten to Grade 12 Social Studies curriculum to determine how adequately it adheres to Canada’s international treaty obligations. I give particular attention to the duties regarding dissemination of information about, through, and for human rights principles and norms that are contained within the United Nations (UN) 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child (Convention) and the UN 2011 Declaration of Human Rights Education and Training (DHRET). To accomplish this, I first develop a compliance assessment tool that is based on international human rights legal standards. This tool is then used in a normative inquiry into BC’s current Social Studies curriculum to assess the extent to which its educational aim, and its conception of the learner, learning process, learning environment, teacher’s role, and evaluation satisfies the international human rights education law requirements that are articulated in the treaties that Canada has ratified. The knowledge that is generated from this investigation is of value to BC’s Ministry of Education and members of the public who are involved in BC’s curriculum development and revision, because it creates a benchmark from which to “take more active measures to systematically disseminate and promote” (UN, 2012, paragraph 25) knowledge about international human rights in BC’s schools. / Graduate