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1 Brock University Fostering Creativity and Innovation

Brock University Fostering Creativity and Innovation

Bold New Brock Campaign

Course Content and Variety

Brock University has since its establishment, presented itself as a small university working towards innovation. With an emphasis on experiential learning, Brock provides it students with the opportunity to apply their skills and knowledge through a various avenues while granting them the flexibility to choose a degree option that best suits their careers needs^[1]. These experiences encourage active learning in the students and pushes them the take initiative in their educations. Brock offers a wide variety of courses in various faculties that are unique to academics. It provides students with the opportunity to explore various fields as it offers cross-listed courses that further integrate faculties.

Degree & Program Variety

Brock provides students with a variety of courses within a specific subject so no two students have the same learning experience regardless of the fact that they are in identical majors. For example the Sociology departs at Brock offers courses in animal ethics, criminology, poverty as well as theory based courses that focus on Marxist and Neoliberal perspectives^[2]. The diversity within subjects makes it easy for students to choose a stream that best suits their interest so they can better narrow their focus to provide a more distinct career path. These courses provide students with a variety of ways to asses’ a particular issue that may have only been viewed under the traditional lens of their programs. Brock University offers an appealing approach in regards to degree options. Students, depending on their career path can decide to purse a degree in the length of 3 years (known as a pass degree), a 4 Year BA with a major, and a 4 years Honors BA. These choices are unique to Brock as many universities offer two degree options ^[1].

Oenology & Viticulture

Brock, as it is located in the wine region of Niagara has a viticulture program that is unique to itself. Students can choose to explore a bachelors of Science degree in Oenology. A Certificate in Grape and Wine Technology are also available to those students who have science degree and would like to gain the training necessary to enter the grape and wine industry^[3] . Students of any major are welcomed to take introductory courses and can eventually pursue a minor in Oenology & Viticulture if they find it of interest to them^[3]. These unique experiences and program options are just one of the many fascinating aspects that set Brock aside from other universities.

Cross-listed Courses

Another remarkable aspect of the courses at Brock is the various cross listed courses. As mentioned earlier cross listed courses provide students with numerous perspectives on viewing a single topic. Cross-listed courses also act in a way to further elaborate on the shortcoming of one subject. For example a study showed that Political Science classes did not help to reduce the barriers between non-whites and minorities studies ^[4]. Therefore integrating a political science class with a sociology class which has had more beneficial results will provide these students with an remarkable aspect their subject neglects. Cross listed course act to integrate multiple perspectives by effectively addressing the shortfalls of a single field. Courses like these provide an interesting shift from traditional performance goals and advocates mastery goals which are beneficial when considering real world applications and entry in the job market. This is an import as it has been replicated in numerous studies that learning goals do not actually foster learning and pure understanding in comparison to mastery goals ^[5].

Active Learning

Active learning removes the traditional roles of teaching and force student to take an more hand on approach to their education. Brock, like other universities, a large focuses has been placed on honors students essentially neglecting those other degree options. Honors students receive numerous opportunities for active learning as they are at the center of their education. Unfortunately, there is no equivalent available to address these same needs in “non-honors students”. However, to tackle this shortfall Brock has designed a course in the psychology depart with that purpose. This course title “Psychology in Everyday Life” encourages students to critically think all the skills in which they developed at their time at Brock in both academic and non-academic settings. In using these skills as a foundation student will learn how to effectively articulate themselves, and articulate their skills. This skill will be essential for success in job market, and Brock believes this will provide its students with a leg up on the competition especially into days growing competitive markets. The formats of these courses provide students with a better understanding of course material. A recent study highlighted that students’ performances were enhanced on testing materials covered with active learning methods in comparison to traditional lecture formats”^[6].

The Brock Experience

Learning experience at Brock vary tremendously even within program and faculties, as mentioned above no two student receive the same learning experience as Brock makes available numerous pathways and streams and is extremely sensitive to the needs of the students and their interest. In many of the faculties you find courses that are pertaining to minority such as Aboriginals, Blacks and Women^[2]. In a study assessing the impacts of diversity suggested that enrollment in diversity courses increases students' positive interactions with diverse peers and "accentuates" the importance students place on engaging in social action^[7]. Students enrolled in these courses will develop greater understanding of situations the marginalized constantly deal with, which will in turn foster ethical & marginal awareness. This is an essential asset to have especially in regards to Canada’s growing minority population. Students at Brock are provided with a various opportunities that will enhance the quality of their education as well as their resume. Each student it granted the opportunity to make their degree unique from others pursing a degree in similar fields.

Real-World Application

Brock University has a variety of real-world application programs and experiences for students to learn not only classroom content material but to also take the skills that they learned in the classroom and apply it in a work setting.

Collaborative Programs

The Psychology department at Brock University has a few different collaborative programs where the University has partnered with a local college, in most cases. This offers students a unique opportunity to get both a degree from Brock University as well as a diploma from the college over the course of four years. This allows students to get a base of theoretical knowledge through the university as well as practical experience from field placements through the college. This allows students to get a variety of perspectives and experiences in their University career from the different professors and schools. ^[8] This improves the student’s learning experience by giving them real world experiences, applying theory into practice, and having valuable interactions with experts in the field. ^[9] This also increases the effectiveness of the education programs. ^[9] The collaborative programs at Brock University include:

Behavioral Science Technology: this program is for students who want to work with individuals who need to or want to change their behaviors and is done with St. Lawrence College in Kingston.
Policing and Criminal Justice: this program is done through Niagara College for students who want to go into the policing field of work.
Social Service Worker: this program is done through Sheridan College and allows students to work in the field of social services in Ontario as well as being able to be a licensed social service worker in Ontario after they complete the program.
Social Service Worker (formally Human Services Counseling): this is done through Durham College instead and is for students that want to have a career is the social services and front-line counselling, after wards students in this program are also able to be licensed as a social service worker through the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers once they have completed the program.
Yukon College: this is an exchange program for students in year 2 of University in which students travel to Yukon College in Whitehorse to learn with members of aboriginal communities and other unique cultures.

Co-op Program

The Psychology department at Brock University also offers Co-op programs as a part of their Honours and 4 Year BA with Major programs. This program combines academic and work terms over a five-year period. Students spend the first two years within Brock University in the academic setting learning core concepts of psychology before they take their first work placement. This integration with the community businesses gives students the opportunity to have applied experience, enhances their perspectives and learning, increases their job opportunities after graduation. ^[10] ^[11]These partnerships also allow for increases in the quality of education that students are getting by putting it into the real world by offering opportunities to learn from experts in their field of study, ^[10] ^[12] ^[13]as well as increasing their professional development.^[14] These programs can also increase student’s interpersonal skills, communication abilities, and personal maturity. ^[14]

Other Events

Brock University has other events that allow the student to help them in through their University experience and to get additional real-world application experience. This is through Brock Universities Smart Start and Smart Finish events which are unique to Brock University.

Smart Start

Smart Start at Brock University allows a new student to come into the University prior to classes starting and allows them to get a head start on their academic life. This includes this such as getting a tour and finding where their classes will be, getting their student card before school starts, as well as a variety of workshops to give the students an idea of what University will be like and how to succeed during their next four years. An extension of this is Brock Universities Stay Smart program in which team members from the Smart Start program during the previous summer are located in the school and are available to answer any questions that students may have during their years at Brock University.

Smart Finish

In addition, Brock University also has a Smart Finish program for third- and fourth-year students. This program is a one-day conference that helps to take the stress and worry out of life after graduation. This also includes speakers that provide information on career exploration, resume and interview strategies, speed networking, further education, and OSAP repayment.

Addition of Seminar to Courses

Notes and References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 www.brocku.ca.
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 http://www.brocku.ca/social-sciences/undergraduate-programs/sociology.
↑ ^3.0 ^3.1 http://www.brocku.ca/ccovi/oenology-viticulture-program.
↑ Holland, L. (2006). Teaching and learning diversity classes: The significiance of classroom climate and teacher creditbility . Journal of Political Science Education,, 2, 187-203. doi: 10.1080/15512160600669122
↑ Luo, W., Paris, S., Hogan, D., & Lua, Z. (2011). Do performance goals promote learning? a pattern analysis of singapore students’ achievement goals. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 36, 165-176
↑ Yoder, J., & Hochevar, C. (2005). Encouraging active learning can improve students’ performance on examinations. 32(2), 91-95.
↑ Laird, N., Engberg, M. E., & Hurtado , S. (2005). Modeling accentuation effects: Enrolling in a diversity course and the importance of social action engagement. The Journal of Higher Education, 76(4), 448-476. doi: 10.1353/jhe.2005.0028
↑ Hestenes, L., et al. (2009). Team teaching in an early childhood interdisciplinary program: A decade of lessons learned. Journal of Early Childhood Teacher Education. 30, 172-183. doi: 10.1080/10901020902886594
↑ ^9.0 ^9.1 Brophy, T. (2011). School-University partnerships in music education: A status report. Arts Education Policy Review, 112, 149-153. doi: 10.1080/10632913.2011.566092
↑ ^10.0 ^10.1 Buys, N., & Bursnall, S. (2007). Establishing university-community partnerships: Processes and benefits. Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management, 29(1), 73-86. doi: 10.1080/13600800601175797
↑ Gearon, C. J. (2012). The factory floor as classroom. U.S. News Digital Weekly, 4(31), 13.
↑ Kessels, J., & Kwakman, K. (2007). Interface: Establishing knowledge networks between higher vocational education and businesses. High Educ, 54, 689-703. doi: 10.1007/s10734-006-9018-4
↑ Lewis, M. V., & Stone III, J. R. (2011). Should your school offer: apprenticeship training?. Techniques. Connecting Education & Careers, 86(3), 16-21.
↑ ^14.0 ^14.1 Young, R., Wright, F., & Stein, M. (2006). Putting it all together: Meaningful outcomes of workplace experiences for marketing students. Proceedings of the Marketing Management Association, 131-137.

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