The RCA is excited to welcome its latest round of students from UBCO’s Faculty of Education Practicum for the Community Field Experience program. Each year, candidates are chosen to work with the RCA and not only help us make meaningful impacts in the arts, but to receive useful experience for their upcoming teaching careers. UBC’s Community Field Experience is designed to immerse soon-to-be teachers in a unique learning environment, one that expands their knowledge beyond a traditional classroom. By working hands-on at the RCA, we’re thrilled to see these educators-in-training gain valuable experience that enhances their teaching skills while also connecting them with meaningful community-based learning opportunities.
"The Community Field Experience allows student teachers an opportunity to experience the value of teaching and learning in a non 'traditional urban school classroom environment',” says Rob Johnson, Associate Professor and the Community Field Experience Coordinator at the Okanagan School of Education. "It allows them to explore using their instructional skills in other contexts while working with, and supporting, community partner organizations. The result is truly a mutually beneficial partnership where the community benefits from the work of the partner organization and the expertise of the student teachers. The Rotary Center for the Arts has been a popular and valued CFE Community Partner since 2017."
This year’s students have 2 projects: creating an RCA Instructor Orientation Program and Visual Arts Enrichment Program for middle and high school students. By providing these practicum students with hands-on experience in art, planning, and research, they will gain valuable skills to take their future teaching endeavours above and beyond.
RCA Instructor Orientation Program
In order to help us streamline training for all our performing and visual arts instructors, the practicum students’ first project will be to create a comprehensive guide to help arts instructors integrate smoothly into RCA. The goal of this project is to help support and assist instructors to develop their facilitation skills so they may transfer their art form into a course setting. The practicum student will be doing a deep dive into the RCA’s workshops and learning more about the needs of our instructors. At the end of this orientation program, instructors will be equipped with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to effectively facilitate arts education, nurture creativity in students, and contribute to a vibrant arts culture at the RCA.
Visual Arts Enrichment Program for Middle and High School Students
The student will assist in the development of an 8-week course series for each of the RCA’s Art Discovery School Programs. The Enrichment Program is an extension of the RCA visual and performing arts courses geared towards at youth in middle and high school. This RCA Enrichment Program will be an addition to the regular curriculum, to deepen youths understanding of visual and performing arts. It will also encourage them to use creativity as a tool for self-expression, collaboration, and problem-solving.
We spoke to the two students participating in the placement program, Nicole and Elise, both of whom are excited to experience these teaching opportunities in the arts.
"Creativity and curiosity are a huge part of my own pedagogical stance, and I believe exploring the arts is a great way to foster resiliency and self-expression,” says Nicole. “I'm incredibly excited about my placement at the RCA and I'm looking forward to further exploring my love of the arts through the lens of program development and connecting with the artistic community."
“I grew up in the arts community,” says Elise, “but unfortunately have not been as involved in my adult life, so, I am beyond grateful and excited for the opportunity to get back into our local arts community here in the Okanagan through RCA’s generous willingness to take on us Teacher Candidates from UBCO. This opportunity allows Teacher Candidates to explore how we can use this degree in various settings, not just a standard classroom. Agency is a key component of what I want to bring to my students and classroom; I want my students to explore their own identity and show their learning in a way that suits them best - and being creative is a fantastic facilitator of this!”
“I very much look forward to my time at RCA and cannot wait to gain insight in how I can grow and learn to apply what I have learned in different settings in our wonderful community.”
We’re thrilled to be working with our community partner, UBCO, to provide the next generation of teachers the skills and concepts needed to further their careers. Candidates bring fresh ideas and enthusiasm to their work with UBC’s community partners, and we can’t wait to see what this year’s students accomplish at the RCA. Learn more about this program here.
Previous Community Field Experience Student Projects
Leadership in Training
Youth can join the Rotary Centre for the Arts’ Arts Blast Camp team as a Leader in Training (LIT). Support campers’ creativity, assist instructors, and develop leadership skills in a fun environment. This volunteer position is for youth aged 13-18 and can count towards graduation hours. This is a great opportunity to gain experience, build confidence, and make new friends.
We gratefully acknowledge support from the Y.P. Heung Foundation for this program.
Art Discovery Curriculum
This unique field trip curriculum, designed by the RCA Arts Discovery instructors and UBCO Education Faculty students, includes music, dance, theatre, and circus arts. Running since 2001, this program has been an integral part of the RCA’s youth programming. If you are booking field trips to the Kelowna Art Gallery or Kelowna Museums and want to include performing arts for your students – we are here for you at the RCA. We have many options to choose from to make your day in the Cultural District dramatically “over the top”. Our professional artists are passionate about what they teach and have been instructing for the RCA for many years. They are well versed in the new curriculum core competencies and look forward to assisting teachers in all teaching endeavors.
Thank you to School District 23 for the continued support.
Art in the Classroom
Art in the Classroom modules for Grades 4 to 6 are designed by teachers for teachers with guidelines using current British Columbia core educational curriculum. These free teaching modules incorporate the arts into various subjects from the Northern Lights to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals across various subjects. The 11 lessons plans are available now for 2024/2025. The lesson plans are free of charge and include lesson outlines, slideshows, links for further research, and relevant handouts.
