Inclusive Post-Secondary Education (IPSE) Literacy Tutors

Inclusive Post-Secondary Education (IPSE) provides an opportunity for adults with disabilities to realize an authentic university experience, from both an academic and a social perspective, over a 4-5 year period. We currently support students at the University of Calgary and St. Mary's University. Students audit classes within their chosen academic themes, while our Educational Facilitators modify the related curriculum in order to provide personalized, life-applicable learning. Throughout this process, our Educational Facilitators also liaise with professors and assist students in accessing every aspect of university life. We embrace a flexible, collaborative, dynamic, diverse working environment. We strive to be pioneers in the field of inclusive post-secondary education.

As Literacy Tutors, participating pre-service teachers will work with IPSE's Educational Facilitators to provide individualized literacy tutoring to students between October and March. Participants will create, plan, and lead literacy-based lessons, supporting IPSE's mission and enhancing students' university experience.

Who?

Students currently taking their EDUC 400 or 500 courses

What?

Participants will create and deliver literacy-based lessons for the student they are paired with on an ongoing basis.

When?

Fall: 1 hour/week from October to December. Specific dates and times will be set based on student/program schedules.

Winter: 1 hour/week from January to March. Specific dates and times will be set based on student/program schedules

Where?

In-person on the University of Calgary main campus or St. Mary's University campus

Additional Information

One-to-one adult literacy program
Age of Participants: Young Adults (17+)
Program Locations: University of Calgary main campus
Pre-service teachers will participate in a 30-minute Werklund orientation session in early October to get more information about the service-learning program and related logistics.
Participants will also attend a 2-hour orientation session in November, followed by a training session mid-November. The orientation and training sessions will introduce participants to IPSE's philosophy and values, as well as a schedule and structure for facilitating literacy sessions.
Pre-service teachers will be paired with a current IPSE student for the duration of their placement, and work with IPSE staff and the student to identify how best to meet the students' individualized learning needs.
Participants will create and deliver literacy-based lessons for the student they are paired with on an ongoing basis. Content of lessons will be determined in collaboration with the student and the Educational Facilitator they work with.

Requirements

Pre-service teachers need a current Police Information Check with Vulnerable Sector Screening (issued after May 1 of the current academic year). Students who do not already have a police check should begin this process online with their local Police station as soon as possible as police checks often take 4-6 weeks to process. Please see the Field Experience Police Information Requirement webpage for more information on how to request a PIC-VS.
Participants will be required to sign an Oath of Confidentiality during their training session with IPSE.
After applying, participants will participate in a brief interview with the IPSE team to determine best bit for both pre-service teacher and the IPSE program.

Apply a variety of facilitation strategies to encourage discussion, generate ideas, and build consensus

Design and implement a variety of activities that meet students’ interests and learning needs

Evaluate successes and setbacks as part of ongoing professional development

Examine a variety of approaches to teaching and learning in non-traditional educational settings

Examine how programming fosters inclusion and personal growth

IPSE Interview: TBD
IPSE Orientation & Training: TBD between the volunteer and facilitator
Literacy Lessons: 1 hour/week from November to March

Specific dates and times will be based on student/program schedules. Schedules can be flexible in terms of hours as IPSE students could potentially do a combination of in person or online meetings with the Tutors.

In total, pre-service teachers agree to commit to a minimum of 25 hours for their service-learning experience.

Fall Semester Timeline

Fall 2024 Applications Open: August 28, 2024
Werklund Information Sessions:
- September 9, 10:00 am (EDT 450)
- September 9, 2:30 pm (Zoom)
Fall 2024 Applications Close: September 15, 2024 (program dependent)
Fall 2024 Placements Start: early October (program dependent)
Fall 2024 Placements End: mid-December (program dependent)

Winter Semester Timeline

Winter 2025 Applications Open: November 15, 2024
Winter 2025 Information Session: November 26, 5:00 pm (Zoom)
Winter 2025 Applications Close: December 1, 2024 (program dependent)
Winter 2025 Placements Start: early January (program dependent)
Winter 2025 Placements End: mid-March (program dependent)

Experiential Learning Check-In & Reflection Opportunities

All participants in Experiential Learning programs are welcome and encouraged to attend at least two of the check-in & reflection sessions below as part of their program. Reflection is an incredibly important part of experiential learning. It encourages students to consider their experience so far and to adjusted as needed as they go forward through the rest of their program, or into the next step of their career.