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Graduate Diploma in Advanced Professional Studies in Education (GDE) programs are designed in collaboration with BC school districts for educators whose primary focus is school-based practice. Through graduate level course work, the GDE provides educators with an extended professional development opportunity focusing on inquiry and professional questions of interest. GDE themes explore current theories and principles within content-specific and interdisciplinary learning.
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Program Design
Current Programs
Student Experiences
Information Sessions
Contact
Graduate Diploma in Education (GDE) programs allow you to “live the work” in a collaborative learning community, with the support of colleagues, mentors, and instructors. Our cohorts tend to attract educators with a range of experiences and backgrounds, including new teachers and TTOCs. Join us for this unique opportunity to connect with educators who share your curiosity and passion for building belonging in your educational communities.
Courses explore different approaches to teaching and learning while examining the research, theories and pedagogical principles on which effective educational practices are based.
Field Studies provide an opportunity for you to develop an inquiry plan around a question or issue of particular importance to you. You will implement this plan in your educational setting and critically reflect on growth and changes in your practice. Field studies are supported by an experienced mentor, and you will meet regularly in small study groups.
Assessment and Evaluation are the means for you to synthesize and self-assess your learning. You will develop and maintain a portfolio throughout the program that will be shared with peers and mentors and evaluated on a satisfactory / unsatisfactory basis.
Program Features
What makes our GDE students unique? Our students ...
- Are self-directed: You decide what aspects of your practice you inquire into, investigate and research;
- Learn what matters: Our programs have direct application to your practice as an educator;
- Know community matters: As a member of a cohort model, you'll be in the same collaborative learning community throughout your program;
- Utilize foundations of support: You will receive support from instructors and mentors who are, or have recently been, educators in BC's K-12 system;
- Are practitioner-inquirers: You'll engage in practitioner-inquiry to investigate your interests and passions;
- Start where they are: GDE programs welcome all experience levels;
- Strive to be the teacher they desire: You can work to better align your values and practice.
TQS Upgrade Opportunity
Completion of the 2-yr (6-term) 30-credit diploma allows teachers to:
- upgrade from TQS category 4 to TQS category 5 or
- from TQS 5 to TQS 5+
Applicants who wish to pursue a TQS upgrade must possess both an undergraduate degree and a valid British Columbia teaching certificate. Those without an undergraduate degree should review the requirements for professional upgrading before considering this program.
Note: credits from other programs or institutions are not transferrable to this program.
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Deepen your pedagogical understanding of social justice, equity, identity and belonging.
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Inquire into Montessori-inspired early learning educational environments, which support and nurture the unfolding of learners’ gifts and potentials.
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Explore inclusive strategies to help students interact and create positive connections in the context of a diverse language learning setting.
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Deepen your understanding of diversity, inclusion and belonging in educational settings.
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Deepen your understanding of inquiry-based learning, fostering learner’s curiosity and creativity, and developing your knowledge of Reggio-inspired and local pedagogies, holistic learning, Indigenous approaches to teaching and learning, and pedagogical narration.
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Develop your pedagogical practice while engaging in sustained reflective inquiry, all within the context of wholistic teachings and transformative pedagogies within Indigenous education.
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Deepen your understanding of the contemplative, reflexive, and reflective basis to social-emotional well-being, resiliency, flourishing and trauma-sensitive pedagogy.
Past & Future Programs
School District Partners & Community Members
Prospective Students
Past program themes have included:
- Curriculum Design & Learning
- Exploring Making
- Inclusion, Interaction and Connection in the French Classroom
- Inclusive Education
- Indigenous Education: Wholistic Teachings and Transformative Pedagogies
- Inquiry and Learning in the Early Years, K-3
- Inquiry-Based Learning and the Reggio-Inspired Classroom
- Language, Literacy and Learning in the Early Years
- Leadership et Pratique Innovante en Education Francophone en Milieu minoritaire (CSF)
- Place and Nature-based Experiential Learning
- Social Emotional Well-being and Wholistic Trauma-sensitive Practices
- Supporting Diversity: Communities of Belonging
- Teaching and Learning in Multilingual, Multicultural Classrooms
- Teaching for Equity in Social Justice
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"My colleagues in the cohort quickly became like a family. We all hailed from different places and roles, yet we all understood the 'teacher’s life' ... Being with each other weekly was some of the best professional development I’ve ever experienced."
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"Although there is always room to grow as a leader and mentor, I can honestly say that the two years spent in the program have offered me countless opportunities to be a better teacher, colleague and leader at my school ... and within my district."
"The field studies at the core of this GDE have given me both the structure and the freedom to explore teaching practices that have an immediate impact on my daily work in the classroom."
Tanya Virani, 2018 Graduate (Frameworks for Innovative Collaboration and Inquiry, GDE)
For GDE admissions and program information, contact:
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Siân Owen Program Assistant
Advanced Professional Studies 778-782-4892 aps_gde_admin@sfu.ca EDB 8541
For new collaborations and programs, contact:
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Paula Rosehart Limited Term Lecturer
Associate Director
GDE 778-782-3389 aps_assoc_director@sfu.ca EDB 8539