Changing educational views from teaching to ‘co-learning’ is the focus of the second Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies Annual Conference, being held at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Ontario on Saturday 2 March. Titled ‘Co-constructing Contexts for Meaningful Engagement’, the conference will look at new ways to support the changing view of children, from the traditional view of teachers-learners in a classroom to that of teachers and pupils as co-learners using play, dance, technology, different cultures, and the outside environment. The keynote address will be presented by renowned early childhood education leader and role model, Professor Lilian Katz, who has lectured across Canada and USA and in 55 other countries. A holder of many academic honours, Professor Katz will share her knowledge of early childhood practices that she has observed in cultures around the world. “Lilian Katz both informs and challenges our conventional wisdom on early childhood education. Few others have contributed so much to the early years’ landscape. We are so excited to host her at our conference,” said conference organiser and program coordinator of CSU’s early childhood studies degree at CSU in Ontario, Ms Karyn Callaghan.

Charles Sturt University (CSU) will close for the Christmas-New Year break from 12.30pm on Friday 21 December and will re-open on Wednesday 2 January 2013. Best wishes to all our readers from the CSU Media team.

Teaching English to young Taiwanese students is a rewarding experience for Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Ontario graduate Mr Donald Joyce. Born and raised in Canada, Mr Joyce had been teaching in Taiwan but wanted to gain formal qualifications, so completed a Bachelor of Primary Education Studies (BPES) at CSU in 2011. He’s now teaching at the Zhongshan Private Elementary School in Taipei. “There are many challenges that go along with teaching students whose first language is not English. You have to be creative in how you deliver your lessons and manage the classroom,” he said. Mr Joyce believes the skills gained studying at CSU have made him a better teacher. “I bring in my guitar and sing because I now recognize the importance of music and how it can be a useful tool in teaching,” he said. “This is something I would never have done in the past as my guitar skills are very basic and my singing defies description.  Now I feel compelled to take risks as a teacher because I know it will be beneficial for the students.” Read the full story here.

The top teaching students at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Ontario have been recognised by the University’s Dean of Education, Professor Toni Downes. In a special ceremony on Tuesday 12 June, Professor Downes presented awards for academic performance and excellence in workplace learning to 21 Bachelor of Primary Education Studies students. Ms Krista Arnold won the award for overall academic excellence, while the Science and Technology Association of Ontario Award was presented to Ms Siobhan Chirico.  “The awards recognise the achievements of students academically and their ability to put that knowledge to use in the classroom,” said Professor Downes. “I wish them well as they embark on their teaching careers.” The ceremony also recognised the achievements of 11 Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies students including Ms Janelle Paul who won the Phoenix Award and Ms Nicole Kennedy who won the Milton Community Resource Centre Award. The Dean’s awards were part of graduation celebrations at CSU in Ontario with more than 230 students receiving their testamurs in ceremonies on Friday 15 June.  

Gaining teaching experience in an Australian school has capped off study for Canadian Charles Sturt University (CSU) student Ms Amanda Waugh. Ms Waugh will be one of almost 160 students to graduate with a Bachelor of Primary Education Studies (BPES)  from CSU in Ontario on Friday 15 June. Ms Waugh completed her final practical placement at the Bathurst West Primary School in News South Wales, Australia. “Australia is far more advanced with implementing technology into their classrooms so that has been extremely valuable,” she said. “It's been fascinating to learn about what techniques they have and what we may do differently. I've also felt I've been able to share some of Canada's culture with my Australian students.”  Now back home, Ms Waugh is looking forward to receiving her testamur.  “Charles Sturt University has prepared me for the classroom in so many ways that I feel ready to step into the teaching profession. It is great to be a part of a school that has connections in other parts of the world and offers such amazing opportunities.”

After fleeing war-torn Sarajevo, Ms Nevenka Grandic has learnt a new language, pursued her dream of being a librarian and will soon receive a Master of Applied Science (Library and Information Management) from Charles Sturt University (CSU).  Ms Grandic settled in Canada in 1992 with limited English skills. She took classes, got a job in a library and worked on her language proficiency by reading ‘Baby-sitters Club’ books. For the past six year Ms Grandic has been the librarian at CSU in Ontario. “I truly enjoy working in a university library because in this role I cover almost all aspects of library services from acquisition, cataloguing and processing through to training students and academics,” she said. Ms Grandic said studying through distance education has supported her professional development. “It has taught me many different aspects of librarianship,” she said.”Working full-time, distance education was the best opportunity to obtain the qualification. The level of support was outstanding; the instructors were always prompt, helpful and knowledgeable.”

The achievements of more than 230 students from Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Ontario, Canada will be recognised in two formal graduation ceremonies on Friday 15 June. Travelling from Australia to attend the ceremonies will be the new CSU President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Andrew Vann, Dean of Education Professor Toni Downes and Associate Dean (International) Dr Pam Gibbons. The morning ceremony at 10am at the Burlington Convention Centre will see 173 graduates of the Bachelor of Primary Education Studies and Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies receive their awards. From 3pm, 58 distance education students from CSU’s Faculties of Science, Education and Business will be presented with their awards.

The new Vice-Chancellor and President of Charles Sturt University (CSU), Professor Andrew Vann, is set to receive a warm Canadian welcome when he visits CSU in Ontario on Monday 19 March.  This is Professor Vann’s first visit to CSU in Ontario since he joined the University in January this year, and he will meet with staff and students during the short informal visit.  While in Canada, Professor Vann will participate as a member of the Australian delegation attending the meeting of the Wellington Group in Vancouver from Wednesday 21 to Friday 23 March. The Wellington Group is a meeting of senior members of the higher education policy community from the United States, England, Ireland, Scotland, New Zealand, Canada and Australia.

A group of five teaching students from Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Australia will spend the next four months studying at the CSU campus in Ontario, Canada. The students from Bathurst, Albury and Dubbo are studying the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood and Primary) through the Faculty of Education. Dubbo-based student, Mr Pete Minney, seized the opportunity to study abroad. “I can broaden my experience by observing first-hand the strategies teachers from another country use and whether the children benefit from a different approach to education,” he said. The exchange has been supported by CSU Global, a University initiative which aims to increase the number of students undertaking international experiences as part of their studies.