Statistics Canada
www.statcan.gc.ca
Common menu bar links
Some Rewards of Education
by Sunita Kossta
Source: @StatCan - Statistics Canada's Electronic Employee Magazine, June 2002.
In December 2001, in my capacity as Ontario Region Education Liaison Officer, I presented at workshops for two classes of environmental science teachers-in-training at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Education. I took them through the Statistics Canada website—the Daily, Canadian Statistics, Learning Resources, Lesson plans, E-STAT and Human Activity and the Environment.
As in previous years, Professor Sandra McEwan gave her students an assignment to create a lesson plan using Statistics Canada data and resources and tie it to the curriculum. She graded the assignments and also sent me copies so that I could select the best in each class and the runners-up.
In April, I returned to the classes to present certificates and prizes. The first place finishers each received a copy of the Human Activity and the Environment CD-ROM and a certificate. The runners-up teams received 'Honourable Mention' certificates.
The first place finishers then submitted their projects to the national Statistics Canada contest for Excellence in Curriculum Design. There were 8 submissions from across Canada this year. One of the teams from Professor McEwan's class – Josie Galloro and Linda Ghosh, tied for first place with a team from Queen's University. They will each receive $125 plus a certificate.
In official acknowledgement of this mutually beneficial partnership, I was pleased to present Professor McEwan with a special Statistics Canada award for exemplary practice in the application of Canadian statistics in teaching and learning, signed by Dr. Fellegi. The certificate recognized Professor McEwan's long-term efforts to encourage the innovative use of Statistics Canada information in student teacher assignments on environmental science at the Faculty of Education, University of Toronto.
Professor McEwan had not expected to receive an award and a few days later I received a note from her expressing her sentiments:
"Thank you for presenting me the "Statistics Canada Award" for exemplary practice in the application of Canadian statistics in teaching and learning. I was very honoured and thrilled to be recognized for my efforts and partnership with Statistics Canada staff. What a surprise!
It has been a pleasure to work with both you and Joel Yan the past five years. My students have appreciated the enrichment curriculum opportunity and receipt of recognition. Thank You!!"
Sandra McEwan
