There they met Professor Diane Hirshberg, who hosted the visit along with colleagues Dr Tonia Dousay and Darlene MacKinnon, they were also joined by Kirk Anderson of Memorial University, Canada. The main host was University of Alaska Anchorage, a premier university set in the heart of Alaska’s largest city and across the south-central region; described as a place where culture, innovation and adventure converge. Roughly 12,000 students from all over the U.S. and 89 countries are currently pursuing their studies at UAA. The unique location provides unparalleled access to valuable industry connections, Arctic research, outdoor recreation courses and more.
The aim and purpose of the visit
The ConnectED project gave us the opportunity to combine field visits with a conference. This gave us insight into local schools’ best practices in the Anchorage area through school visits and meeting with representatives of the Anchorage School District. In addition, we were able to engage with local students by contributing to a master’s seminar. The week also fell during the Arctic Encounter conference, which gave us the ideal opportunity to share our knowledge and experiences of education in the circumpolar North with a much wider audience.
Below is an overview of the programme we followed during our time in Anchorage.
Two days visiting UAA and the local schools
On the first day we partook in an Arctic Exchange Forum of the School of Education: Perspectives on Indigenizing Education. Guest Speakers: Anne-Mette Bjøru, Gregor Ross Dørum Maxwell, Kirk Anderson. UAA Speakers: Panigkag John-Shields, and Michele Yatchmeneff. Moderator: Dr. Tonia Dousay. Students could attend both in person and follow online.
Later on the same day we presented a master’s seminar Building Indigenous and Inclusive Education Across the Arctic at UAA, 17:30-19:00.
Across the Arctic, schools struggle to meet the needs of all students, especially Indigenous students and those who have learning disabilities. Education systems are needed that allow students to study in institutions grounded in their own cultures and languages, regardless of whether they are newcomers or Indigenous, and that prepare them to succeed regardless of learning differences. In this seminar, we discuss initiatives to create more Indigenous and inclusive learning environments and prepare teachers to be successful in these primary and secondary education settings in Alaska, Canada, Greenland, and Norway. Speakers included:
- Kirk Anderson, Professor of Educational Administration, Memorial University of Newfoundland & UArctic Chair in School Effectiveness and School Improvement, Canada
- Gregor Ross Dørum Maxwell, Associate Professor in Pedagogy and Inclusive and Special Education, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Norway
- Anne-Mette Bjøru, Lecturer, Master’s program in Special Education, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Campus Alta, Norway
- Diane Hirshberg, Director, UAA Institute of Social and Economic Research, Professor of Education Policy, University of Alaska Anchorage, and VP - Academic, UArctic, US
- Panigkaq Agatha John Shields, Assistant Professor Indigenizing Education, University of Alaska Anchorage, US
- Carl Egede Bøggild, Ph.D., Special Advisor, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sport and Church, Greenland
The seminar was recorded and can be viewed here.
Further highlights of our two days visiting schools in the local area: We visited the Clare Swan Early Learning Center, Rilke Schule (German immersion school), and Romig Middle School. The Clare Swan Early Learning Center showcased how the Head Start educational program benefits Alaska Natives and American Indian pre-school children. Rilke Schule gave an insight into how multi-language communities tackle education while sustaining interest in German language and culture. Romig Middle School is a large and diverse middle school with a very rich tapestry of nationalities and cultures represented in the school’s population and highlighted how Anchorage successfully builds a cohesive and inclusive school.
In addition to the three school visits, we also visited the Anchorage District Education Center and met with directors of the various local school programs. We discussed similarities and differences concerning recruitment, inclusive practices, and completion rates, amongst other themes.
Alaska Native Art Exhibits
The visit also included a cultural and social component and we visited the Alaska Native Medical Center (ANMC) for a tour of the Alaska Native Art Exhibits & Arts & Craft Shop. There was a considerable collection of miniatures that highlighted the many different approaches to clothing and art.
Three days at the Arctic Encounter conference
https://www.arcticencounter.com
We presented a panel discussion during session twenty one, 11:15-12:15 on 12th April.
Building Indigenous and Inclusive Education Across the Arctic
Hosted by: UAA Institute of Social and Economic Research & UArctic
Moderator: Dr. Diane Hirshberg, Director, UAA Institute of Social and Economic Research, Professor of Education Policy, University of Alaska Anchorage, and Vice President - Academic, University of the Arctic (United States)
Dr. Kirk Anderson, Professor of Educational Administration, Memorial University of Newfoundland and University of the Arctic Chair in School Effectiveness and School Improvement Canada (Canada)
Dr. Panigkaq Agatha John-Shields, Assistant Professor Indigenizing Education, University of Alaska Anchorage (United States)
Dr. Gregor Ross Dørum Maxwell, Associate Professor in Pedagogy and Inclusive and Special Education, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway (Norway)
Ms. Anne-Mette Bjøru, Lecturer, Master’s program in Special Education, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Campus Alta (Norway)
Mr. Carl Egede Bøggild, Ph.D., Special Advisor, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sport and Church (Greenland)
Closing remarks
The visit to UAA in the spring of 2024 gave us the opportunity to combine field visits with a conference. We experienced a rich and interesting program that covered both academic and cultural themes and enabled us to connect with teachers and staff in schools as well as build on academic relationships with a view to further collaboration.
ConnectED participants:
Gregor Ross Dørum Maxwell, Maxwell, Gregor Ross Dørum | UiT
Anne-Mette Bjøru, Bjøru, Anne Mette | UiT
Other visitor:
Kirk Anderson, https://www.mun.ca/educ/our-people/academic-faculty/faculty/dr-kirk-anderson/