Alberta School Counsellor Fall 2019

Counsellor ALBERTA SCHOOL

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Fall 2019

tablets and technology in the classroom: How much is too much screen time?

NLC partnership creates homegrown workforce with dual credit programming How to recognize anxiety in your students: A look at how anxiety affects students of all ages, and the resources that are available to help

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Counsellor In this issue ALBERTA SCHOOL

is published by DEL Communications Inc. Suite 300, 6 Roslyn Road Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada R3L 0G5 www.delcommunications.com President/Publisher David Langstaff Managing Editor Taryn Rittberg taryn@delcommunications.com Sales Manager Dayna Oulion dayna@delcommunications.com Advertising Account Executives Ross James Kari Philippot ..............................................................................

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Tablets and technology in the classroom: How much is too much screen time?............................................................. 4 Get to know Bow Valley College: Fast, focused, and flexible..................................................................................... 5 NLC partnership creates homegrown workforce with dual credit programming.................................................... 6 Blunt talk: Where does Canada stand one year into the legalization of cannabis, and how could this affect students.......... 8 Harris Institute achieves 100 per cent graduate employment rate................................................................................10 HED: Test driving the university experience at MacEwan’s open house........................................................ 12 How to recognize anxiety in your students: A look at how anxiety affects students of all ages, and the resources that are available to help........................................... 14

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Alberta School Counsellor / Fall 2019 3

Tablets and technology in the classroom:

How much is too much screen time?

By Taryn Rittberg

T

hese days, a classroom without some form a screen is basically unheard of. It is even becoming common to have some form of tablet to be listed on students’

necessary school supplies list, or have your school

Doctor Piush Mandhane, who is an associate professor of paediatrics for the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, lead this study, and commented that he “dound that screen time had a significant impact at five years of age.”

send a tablet home with students for educational purposes. Either way, the amount of time students

Continuing, he stated that “Current Canadian

are spending using screens, in one form or another,

guidelines call for no more than two hours of screen

is drastically increasing. If this is the new normal,

time a day at that age. But our research suggests that

then we must consider how much screen time is

less screen time is even better.”

too much? Does it affect students’ vision or their sleep patterns? Should we be considering the affect screen time has on the cognitive development of children and young adults?

First author Doctor Sukhpreet Tamana summed up the study saying “The two big takeaways from this study are that children exposed to more screen time, at either age three or five years, showed significantly

A 2019 Canadian study, conducted in Alberta, which

greater behavioural and attention problems at five

included 2,400 families compared the behaviour

years, and that the association between screen

of children who were allowed two hours or more

time and behavioural problems was greater than

a day of screen time to those who were allowed

any other risk factor we assessed, including sleep,

30 minutes or less of screen time. The study found

parenting stress, and socioeconomic factors.”n

that the children who were allowed two hours or more a day of screen time were five times more

Work cited:

likely to exhibit problematic behaviours including

Tamana, S. K., Ezeugwu, V., Chikuma, Mandhane,

hyperactivity, inattentiveness, and oppositional

P. J. et al (2019). Screen-time is associated with

behaviours, and were seven times more likely to

inattention problems in preschoolers: Results from

exhibit behaviours that met the current criteria of

the CHILD birth cohort study. Plos One, 14(4). doi:

ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder).

10.1371/journal.pone.0213995

4 Alberta School Counsellor / Fall 2019

Get to know Bow Valley College: Fast, focused, and flexible Submitted by Bow Valley College

A

s Alberta’s largest community college and a proud partner in Campus Alberta, Bow Valley College serves 16,000 students each year in Calgary and throughout southern Alberta. We offer year-round career certificate, diploma, post-diploma and post-baccalaureate programs, as well as

high school upgrading and English language learning. We also offer a range of career services, and specialized services to support newcomers to Canada with securing viable careers and professional accreditation.

Bow Valley College delivers programs and skills that make you think in new and creative ways, removing obstacles to fulfilling and lasting employment. In fact, 88 per cent of our graduates find employment within one year of finishing their studies.

Our main campus is steps away from the city hall C-Train platform, shopping, restaurants, events and Calgary’s trendy east village. Fast, focused, and flexible that’s the reality of a Bow Valley College education. n

Alberta School Counsellor / Fall 2019 5

NLC partnership creates homegrown workforce with dual credit programming Submitted by Northern Lakes College

T

hrough an innovative partnership with the Fort Vermilion School Division and Alberta Health Services, Northern Lakes College is ensuring that communities in the Mackenzie Region have qualified Health Care Aides (HCA). Says Kathy Reid-Soucy, Dean, Health Programs at the College, “The

partnership is entering its fourth year this September. We’ve had three cohorts of high school students take the Dual Credit HCA program. We are proud to be part of a collaboration that ensures local and qualified staff for regional care centres.” Students from high schools in Fort Vermilion, High Level, La Crete, and Rocky Lane have completed the program.

Fort Vermilion School Division (FVSD) supports Dual Credit programs that lead directly into the workforce. “The HCA program fits perfectly with our philosophy because there is a definite need for Health Care Aides in our region,” states Karen Smith,

6 Alberta School Counsellor / Fall 2019

Supervisor of Learning Services with FVSD. “Having the support of Alberta Health Services (AHS) has been crucial in the success of this program. AHS has provided students with clinical skills instruction, practicum placements, plus hiring information and support,” comments Smith.

Angie Mann, Director of Clinical Operations Area 1 for AHS is equally enthusiastic about the success of the partnership. “We need

beginning of a career in health. Some decide they want to pursue nursing. This is the local, homegrown workforce that we need.”

to sustain local health services. This is an innovative way to ‘grow

AHS supports students’ practical hours, so many graduates will have

our own’.” Mann explains that AHS faces recruitment challenges in

already worked in the long-term care, acute care, and emergency

the north. Recruitment of professionals from the south or out of

facilities of the local health centres. The students are familiar with

province is a temporary solution as they do not have a connection

the organization, so it is a seamless transition into the workplace

to the communities and often leave. “We need to build capacity

upon graduation.

locally with people who grow up in, and know, the north. Because we recruit these students in their hometowns, they are ‘culturally

Concludes Mann, “Other communities ask us how this works. It is

competent’. They can work with clients in long-term care and

based on excellent relationships with both internal and external

there is no cultural gap or language barrier. For some, HCA is the

stakeholders. Relationships create opportunities.” n

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Alberta School Counsellor / Fall 2019 7

Where does Canada stand one year into the legalization of cannabis, and how could this affect students

By Taryn Rittberg

O

n October 17, 2019 Canada will have had legal

• Drivers who use cannabis daily or weekly are more likely to

cannabis available to be purchased, in stores by

drive within two hours of using cannabis, than those who use

adults (age range varies depending on provincial

cannabis less frequently.

and territorial laws) for an entire year. The

National Cannabis Survey, Statistics Canada 2018

question is, has this affected the student population, and what can be done to make sure students, and all young individuals,

After one year of legalization, the statistics provided by the

have the information they need in a new system where Cannabis

National Cannabis Survey, Statistics Canada 2019 indicate that:

is legal, potentially when they are still a student in high school.

• 5.3 million or 18 per cent of Canadians aged 15 years and older

The National Cannabis Survey, Statistics Canada 2018 indicated

reported some use of cannabis in the last three months, a

the following statistics in 2018:

hike of four per cent compared to the previous years’ data

• 4.2 million or 14 per cent of Canadians aged 15 years and older reported some use of cannabis products for either medical or non-medical use in the past three months. More than half (56 per cent) of these individuals indicated that they used some form of cannabis daily or weekly.

• One in three cannabis users obtain their supply from family or friends.

8 Alberta School Counsellor / Fall 2019

(obtained prior to legalization).

• Just over four in 10 cannabis consumers (equivalent to 42 per cent) reported purchasing at least part of their cannabis from illegal sources, such as a drug dealer, while over one in three (37 per cent) reported using cannabis obtained from (or shared among) friends and family.

National Cannabis Survey, Statistics Canada 2019

The question is, has this affected the student population, and what can be done to make sure students, and all young individuals, have the information they need in a new system where Cannabis is legal, potentially when they are still a student in high school.

With legalization teachers and counsellors alike have an additional

2. What do you know about medical cannabis? What is your

substance to educate students about, and this includes the

school district’s procedures for distribution, use and privacy in

responsible use of the substance and not just abstinence education.

regard to medical cannabis? Do you feel comfortable discussing

As well, parents will be looking for information on how to talk to

the differences between medical cannabis and legal cannabis

their child about the topic or aid if there is a potential issue with

consumed recreationally?

the substance. As an educator you may be looking for ways to send your students into the work force prepared to deal with a now legally available mind-altering substance.

Below you will find a list of questions that will help you compile

3. Have you had a staff meeting to discuss potential issues with the new legislation? Do you have a plan?

4. What resources do you have that are accurate and current? Do

information for your students and parents alike, and prepare for the

you have a local community service officer that works with your

new reality of legalized cannabis use (provided by Linda Miller):

school? Are you connected to community health services? n

1. Check with your local school board to see what new regulations

Linda Millar is a contributor to Drug Free Kids Canada, and an

might exist in terms of the legalization issues within your school

education consultant with over 40 years of experience. She has

domain. Is there anything new this school year? Is this a change

authored several teacher resources in the fields of substance use

from the existing policies?

prevention, media literacy, childhood obesity, and mental health.

Alberta School Counsellor / Fall 2019 9

Harris Institute achieves 100 per cent graduate employment rate

T

Submitted by Harris Institute

he Ministry of Training, Colleges, and Universities

or were nominated for 247 awards in the last two years. Harris

issued new key performance indicators (KPI’s) for

Institute is the only school where graduates have won all the

Ontario’s private colleges. Harris Institute is the only

major music, film and television awards – Grammy, Emmy, Oscar,

post secondary school in North America to achieve a

JUNO, and Canadian Screen Awards. John Harris, the college’s

100 per cent graduate employment rate, a 100 per cent graduate

founder, received the Cashbox Legacy Award in 2018 as a

satisfaction rate and four 0 per cent student loan default rates.

Canadian music industry builder and educator.

The college specializes in comprehensive audio and music

A unique partnership with the University of the West of Scotland

industry education taught by active award-winning leaders.

enables Harris graduates to earn BA and BSc Degrees at UWS in

Twelve-month diploma programs that start in March, July, a¬-nd

eight months on full scholarships.

November.

The college’s Arts Management Program has achieved an Harris Institute ranked as the best private school for a seventh

unprecedented 8 annual 0% Student Loan Default Rates and its

consecutive year in the 2019 ‘Media Arts Education Report’ and

Audio Production Program has achieved 6.

it is the only school outside the US in Billboard Magazine’s ‘Top 11 Schools’.

The college’s alumni are in leadership roles in every area of the Canadian music industry. They have established a wide range of successful companies since the school’s inception and won

10 Alberta School Counsellor / Fall 2019

Harris Institute is celebrating its 30-year anniversary in 2019.

Upcoming one-year diploma programs start on November 11, 2019 and March 23, 2020.

For more information visit www.harrisinstitute.com. n

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HED:

Test driving the university experience at MacEwan’s open house

Submitted by MacEwan University

A

post-secondary education will likely be one of the

on their own – exploring classrooms, labs and study spaces, while

biggest investments a person makes. That’s why

also scoping out the fitness facilities, residence, food options and

David Fischer, MacEwan University’s team lead for

other amenities.

student recruitment, encourages prospective students

to attend university open house events to ensure they make an informed decision about where to study.

“Most people wouldn’t buy a house without walking through it, or a car without test driving it. It’s just as important to visit a post-secondary institution and get a feel for the campus and the atmosphere before choosing to go there,” says Fischer.

Each fall, universities across the province welcome hundreds of curious learners and their families during open house season, and on Saturday, November 3, prospective students will get their chance to explore MacEwan.

Many current students volunteer at the open house, ensuring they’re on-hand to offer advice on applying for university and embracing the post-secondary experience.

Staff and faculty also volunteer at the event, welcoming prospective students at program booths and leading information sessions. Professors are available to answer questions about their fields of study and offer insights on the career options specific degrees have to offer.

“Getting good marks is one part of what you need, but getting relevant work and volunteer experience is just as critical,” says Fischer. “I strongly advise students to reverse-engineer their future.

The Edmonton university’s open house features interactive exhibits,

Start by talking to people who have the job you want, ask what

performances, program displays, service booths and information

that person would want to see if they were hiring and plan your

sessions, allowing attendees to not only visit the campus, but to

university experience from there.”

experience the vibrant MacEwan community.

Visitors can take a guided campus tour or wander through the halls 12 Alberta School Counsellor / Fall 2019

If a student already has a clear vision of their future career, an open house also provides opportunities to learn about funding

Many current students volunteer at the open house, ensuring they’re on-hand to offer advice on applying for university and embracing the post-secondary experience. available to help get them there. Knowledgeable staff have information on student aid and can explain how to access many scholarships and awards – even if someone isn’t a straight-A student.

“Students are always blown away when I tell them we don’t give away all the free money – scholarships and awards – we have available every year,” says Fischer.

When a student decides to make that big investment in a university education, it’s important to choose the place that’s uniquely right for them. Open house events are the perfect place to do some real-world research, ask questions and find some answers.

MacEwan University’s open house runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with free parking at City Centre Campus. Learn more at MacEwan.ca/OpenHouse. n

Enter for your chance to win an educational award of $5,000

November 2, 2019 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

City Centre Campus MacEwan.ca/OpenHouse #macewanu Alberta School Counsellor / Fall 2019 13

How to recognize anxiety in your students:

A look at how anxiety affects students of all ages, and the resources that are available to help

By Taryn Rittberg

W

hile back to school may be the most notorious time of the school year when considering increases in stress and anxiety, students in kindergarten all the way through grade twelve

Calm, Stop, Breathe, and Think, and Rootd for adults, has become an amazing resource at our fingertips.

One of the major challenges in dealing with anxiety at any age

and into post-secondary education, deal with an immense variety of

is in identifying the problem before it becomes a crisis situation.

stressors on a daily basis, throughout the entire year.

Anxiety can manifest itself in a great number of physical ailments, so determining what exactly is the root of the problem is essential.

The best practices for dealing with anxieties in students, is to first create an environment in which young people feel open to sharing

“Adults can help normalize these [anxiety] struggles.” says Lynn

how they feel. Sometimes, just the catharsis of expression can aid

Lyons, LICSW. “But ‘helping’ a child by consistently alleviating or

the situation enough to prevent a need for further intervention.

getting rid of his emotions/distress sends the message that such emotions are problematic. The message I give to the families I treat:

However, if you or your students, do encounter situations where

the problem with anxiety is not its existence; the problem often

you are looking for additional assistance there are many resources

lies in our attempts to eliminate it and the expectation that we

that you can access.

shouldn’t have it.”

Technology has provided a range of easily accessible tools to deal

“Kids find their own paths when we show them how to adapt

with, and learn about anxiety. With the use of tables, computers,

and adjust. Support them, laugh with them, listen and then model

and iPhones/smartphones, using an application to help deal with

problem solving for both students and their parents. Flexibility,

anxiety, such as Breathe, Think, Do Sesame, Kids Yoga Deck, and

emotional management and the ability to step back from one’s

DreamyKid for younger children, or Thinkful, Mindshift, and Smiling

own thinking are skills to be taught and learned, and missteps are a

Mind for middle years to high school students, and apps such as

valuable part of the experience.” n

14 Alberta School Counsellor / Fall 2019

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