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Jonathan Dyck
Year Graduated: 2012
Program/Degree: C&I Ecological Education MEd
"In fact, experiencing the struggles and epiphanies of our two-year program with the same cohort of students was the most valuable feature of my graduate experience!"
My name is Jonathan Dyck, and I'm a high school teacher in Langley, BC. Originally from a Mennonite community in Manitoba, I grew up in Germany before moving to BC at age 16. I'm passionate about education as well as social and environmental justice issues, which is why I enrolled in the Ecological Education cohort to pursue an MEd degree. My research drew me toward critical, place-based, and transformative pedagogies, and I investigated the spiritual ecology of learning environments.
What attracted you to come to SFU?
I completed both my BA and my B.Ed. degrees at SFU, and thoroughly enjoyed the place and the people I encountered--as well as the ideas, of course. I especially appreciated the openness to innovation and interdisciplinary approaches, and the diversity of students and faculty. The experiential environmental education course I took as part of my B.Ed. was a highlight, so when I found the corresponding graduate program, directed by the same instructor (David Zandvliet), it was an easy choice.
Who is a faculty member you have enjoyed working with and why?
Vicki Kelly stood out for creating a multi-modal learning environment and helping students connect to their passions; her emphasis on indigenous pedagogy and lived curriculum had a profound effect on me.
Heesoon Bai also made a lasting impression with her mindful and compassionate approach to educational philosophy; I found myself engaged intellectually and emotionally--even spiritually--in her seminar.
What would you say to prospective students who are considering graduate school in the Faculty of Education?
I had considered enrolling in an online program, but I do not regret choosing face-to-face classes instead. The regular interactions with my classmates--who came from very diverse backgrounds and experiences--made my courses so much richer. In fact, experiencing the struggles and epiphanies of our two-year program with the same cohort of students was the most valuable feature of my graduate experience!