BC Student Voice

Rural Students: What are your issues?

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 10:12:27 -0700

From Mr. Dan Kenkel in School District 57:

I am a principal of a small rural secondary school in Valemount. I also sit on a new rural schools council that is looking at ways to improve rural education, and celebrate the successes. As students in rural BC, you have a spot at the table too. Please contact me if you have any feedback or comments I can bring back to the council. If you are interested in attending the council in Vancouver, contact me too! I am eager to listen and represent your views.
dkenkel@sd57.bc.ca

BC Student Voice Spring 2012 Meeting

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 16:12:20 -0700

BC Education Minister George Abbott

Presentation

Website Launch

Presentation

BC Student Voice Spring 2012 Meeting

NVSD Forum Modernizes Data Collection

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 15:59:00 -0700

When you think of forums and roundtable discussions, what materials come to mind? Perhaps chart paper, sticky notes, and Sharpies? At the North Vancouver School District Annual Student Forum, these archaic tools of yesteryear are being replaced with laptops and Twitter.

During the planning stages of the forum, District Student Leadership Council members were enthusiastic about the radical shift in the way data will be collected. “I am excited to see the engaging dialogue which will take place in dual-platform: face-to-face and using Twitter throughout the Student Forum,” says Ms. Brenda Gilby, a DSLC advisor.

Not only are digital services more environmentally friendly than pen and paper, they allow faster input of information, suitable for fast-paced discussions. These services also offer easier collation and analysis of data after the forum.

Another major benefit of using a social network is, of course, its social aspect. Tweets can be projected to the front of the conference room, allowing interaction between previously isolated table groups. Additionally, students can continue to participate in the discussion after the forum is adjourned. Because the tweets are publicly available, those who cannot make it to the forum can easily join in the conversation.

The NVSD forum will be held on April 24 at Windsor Secondary.

-Willie C.

Delta BC Student Voice Regional Forum

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 15:42:52 -0700

Delta BC Student Voice Regional Forum

Personalized Learning: Student Perspectives on the BC Education Plan

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 15:05:00 -0700

Students Frustrated with Lack of Opportunities

Sat, 07 Apr 2012 10:06:17 -0700

A huge problem in public education in British Columbia right now is the lack of opportunities for students to challenge themselves.

The current curriculum supports students who are not up to par with others, by offering courses like Communications and different levels of math. However, students striving for challenges have found that there is a lack of honours, accelerated, advanced, and Advanced Placement courses offered for their needs.

This lack of challenge has proven to be a hinderance when it comes to earning college and university admissions, scholarships, and major international awards.

Students at Elgin Park Secondary who want to see change spoke out by registering for many Advanced Placement exams that the corresponding courses are NOT offered at Elgin(For example, students registered for the AP Macroeconomics exam, while Elgin does not offer the AP Macroeconomics course). These students, me included, hope that school administration sees the demand for such challenges.

The students of Elgin Park Secondary would like to urge the Ministry of Education to encourage schools across British Columbia to create more honours, accelerated, advanced, and Advanced Placement courses so that our ambitions are not hindered by the lack of opportunities.

- Jerry L.

Anti-Bullying

Sat, 31 Mar 2012 11:08:00 -0700

Further to today’s presentation on bullying, people should be aware of a project completed in the Comox Valley by students at our three Secondary Schools with Shane Koyczan. The first link is the actual video that was done (about 5 minutes long) and the other is the documentary about the making of the video (about an hour long). If you find it appropriate, please feel free to pass these along.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lI38nGmurs the music video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FS5wXWMEshE the documentary

- Gerald F.

BC Student Voice - The Real Day

Sat, 31 Mar 2012 10:08:00 -0700

So it’s day two and we’re all here and pumped. Incredibly exhausted, but pumped. I mean, how could you not be? We have the opportunity to be part of something so new and innovative! The minister came by yesterday, it was nice seeing him! He answered some of our questions, and I remember one specifically. Someone asked how students were supposed to create an “even playing field” with things like provincials gone? I mean, what is the replacement or equivalent to those exams? Before yesterday.. I couldn’t tell you the point of those exams. I know I had it them..and they sucked.. But they had a point.

- Darya A.

Spring Meeting Agenda

Wed, 28 Mar 2012 16:18:00 -0700

Friday, March 30

7:30 am - Breakfast

8:15 am - Meeting Opener and Icebreaker

9:00 am - David Jang (CBC)

10:00 am - Break

10:15 am - Main Topic: Student Response to BC Education Plan

12:00 pm - Group Photo & Lunch

1:00 pm - Guest Speaker, Writing Exercise, BCPVPA Scholarship Information

4:00 pm - Free Time

6:00 pm - Dinner

6:45 pm - Activity

9:00 pm - Hospitality

10:15 pm - Advisors Check Rooms

Saturday, March 31

7:30 am - Breakfast

8:15 am - Overview of the Day & Icebreaker

9:00 am - BC Student Voice Website

10:00 am - Break

10:15 am - Anti-Bullying Presentation

11:45 am - Lunch (check out of rooms)

1:00 pm - Reports on Forums: “Voice on Student Success”, Provincial Scene

2:30 pm - Graduation Certificates

3:00 pm - Adjourned

North Vancouver Student Forum Putting the “U” Back...

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 13:03:26 -0800

North Vancouver Student Forum

Putting the “U” Back into Education: Operation Innovation

Okanagan Student Voice Forum in the News

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 10:43:32 -0800

Okanagan Student Voice Forum in the News:

Okanagan Student Voicers went straight to the experts to find out how to learn through play.

When discussing what makes a well-rounded, happy, and successful student, they decided to head to a Vernon elementary school to gain some insight from a Kindergarten class.

Read the article from the Vernon Morning Star

Vancouver Sun Student Video Contest

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 09:05:19 -0800

Vancouver Sun Student Video Contest:

Have you entered yet? This contest is open to open to all secondary school students in BC. Take a look at some of the great entries already online!

"I have learned that students really can make a difference. Seeing it in a movie or reading about it..."

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 09:54:00 -0800

“I have learned that students really can make a difference. Seeing it in a movie or reading about it us one thing, but experiencing first hand the power of youth is positively overwhelming! It has inspired me.”

- Kyle Wamer, Ballenas Civic Action Group, Ballenas Secondary School, Parksville

Ballenas Civics Action Group Shows Students Thinking Globally...

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 09:48:00 -0800

Ballenas Civics Action Group Shows Students Thinking Globally and Acting Locally

Having finished their Civics course the year before, a group of grade 12 students at Ballenas Secondary missed the opportunities to learn about and discuss a broad range of issues that Civics had afforded them. It was the desire to recreate these opportunities that gave them the impetus to join with other like-minded peers to form a Civics Action Group.

The Ballenas Civics Action Group has a simple mandate: to provide students with the opportunity to gain knowledge of political, global, local and environmental issues; to create an environment conducive to their being discussed; and also to provide opportunity for the organization of group or individual action.

Every other week students put together a fifteen-minute presentation on a national or international topic, and present it to the rest of the class. So far the Chilean Student Protests, the Kyoto Protocol, the Canadian federal government system, as well as the Canadian Omnibus Crime Bill (Safe Streets and Communities Act) have all been examined during the Civic Action Group’s lunchtime meetings. During the discussion period afterwards, all students are given the opportunity to give their views and opinions. This dialogue between the students gives fresh insight.

In a merging of local and environmental concerns, the group has also begun boosting the Ballenas recycling program, expanding the list of items available for recycling to include compostables and soft plastics. Lili Simon, Environment chair, says: “I think it’s really important for us to focus upon what we can do locally, and from there expand on what we can do internationally, to help our planet.”

Also in the works are several environmental education sessions, which will include members of the group presenting both at Ballenas and at other local schools. Discussed will be the current status, and apparent future, of several endangered Canadian species, the effects of climate change on the Canadian environment as well as an in-depth look at the steps taken towards combating climate change by Canadian governments. “We really believe that education is key in ensuring that we can all begin to move forward to tackle the issues that are facing us now and that will play important roles in our futures,” says Hayley Milne, “and we hope that us sharing our knowledge and passion will kindle the interests of others.”

While the Civics Action Group has given a forum to individuals to speak out and address issues, perhaps one of its greatest achievements is showing the ability of youth to make a difference, and proving that age poses few boundaries that can’t be swept aside by the strength of determination, will power and belief that many of the Civics Action Group display.

“Civics Action Group has provided me with incredible knowledge on current events on a political environmental and global scale. I’ve learnt how to better communicate with my peers and it’s given me insight on youth’s role in changing society today.”
- Nic Annau

Student Voice influences the future of Education in BC

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 11:23:00 -0800

A recent Vancouver Sun article from December 13, 2011 outlines plans to overhaul British Columbia’s education system. The BC Education Plan, which was launched by Minister of Education George Abbott at Student Voice’s Fall 2011 meeting, emphasizes personalized learning and a focus on technology.

From the article:

It’s worth noting, too, that the genesis for the plan appears to have arisen from education’s main clients: students. Based on a report to emerge last spring from a representative gathering known as the “BC Student Voice,” their opinions are consistent and clear.

In Learning in the 21st Century, students wrote that they favoured expanding the role of technology as “a seamless extension of what they are already doing,” and “education individually catered to each person.”

Overall, they seem comfortable about a significantly modified version of schooling, reporting a “need for education to be less rigid,” and that “the concept of students as a homogeneous group sitting in a classroom listening to a teacher present material is outdated.”

Apparently, Minister Abbott joined the student meeting last spring and was so impressed with what he heard that he returned to his office determined to create the new plan.

Read the full article from The Vancouver Sun

Here’s the original BC Student Voice report “Learning in the 21st Century”:

Kudos to the students!

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 10:22:00 -0800

On a rainy November morning I walked into the offices of the BC Principals and Vice-Principals Association not knowing what to expect. Sure I’ve been to other codeathons, or hackathons as the events are also called, but I’d never been to an event where students were the majority of the audience.

After an introduction and brainstorming session from Brent Munro of the BC Ministry of Education, the students were off and running, looking for data and trying to wrestle their ideas into a manageable form to avoid being overwhelmed by possibilities.

After searching the DataBC website for data and a bit of Google-Fu, they found the data and the tools and set to the real work of turning data into information.

And they did great! They crafted a scholarship finder to make it easier to figure out how to ease post-secondary school debt, they mapped school locations and SkyTrain crime statistics to name two projects.

Was the day a success? I’d say so. The students were able to see what data could do for themselves, their classmates and their parents.

And for some, it was their first view into a world that perhaps they would have otherwise never seen. And isn’t that what learning is all about? I think so.

Well done everyone. Thanks to the BC Principals and Vice-Principals Association and the Ministry of Education for pulling the event together.

David Wrate
Citizen Engagement Director
Province of British Columbia

The Codeathon Newsletter

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 11:25:00 -0800

Have your say in the new BC Education Plan

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 10:54:18 -0800

Have your say in the new BC Education Plan:

The Ministry of Education wants your help in shaping the future of Education in BC. Make your voice heard!

BC Student Voice was in action at British Columbia’s first...

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 11:58:00 -0800

BC Student Voice was in action at British Columbia’s first student codeathon on Nov. 7, 2011. The Ministry of Education and the BC Principals’ and Vice-Principals’ Association co-hosted the event, which brought together students with the purpose of promoting awareness of open data, information that can be extracted from raw data, and creation of new applications from the data.

Almost 50 students travelled from across the southeast Kootenays...

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 13:17:54 -0800

Almost 50 students travelled from across the southeast Kootenays for their Student Voice regional conference on November 16th. Students came from as far as Invermere and district administrators and trustees also attended.

Were you there? Share your stories by submitting a post!