The Quebec government wants secondary students to begin gradually returning to their classes starting March 30. However, for both teachers and students, it is a big challenge that some have difficulty facing.

Converting a lecture course to an online course is not easy for all teachers, especially those who are not very familiar with computer tools.

days to prepare our session. We learn there [qu’il faut donner nos cours en ligne] in a few days, while we are limited and don't have all the equipment at home”,”text”:”Normally, we have 45 days to prepare our session. We learn there [qu’il faut donner nos cours en ligne] a few days notice, while we are closed and we don't have all our equipment at home”}}” lang=fr>We usually have 45 days to prepare our session. We learn there [qu’il faut donner nos cours en ligne] a few days notice, while we are confined and we don't have all our equipment at homesays a CEGEP teacher who prefers to keep his identity confidential.

It creates a lot of anxiety and we have the impression that we may not be able to train the students as much as we would like.

This teacher specifies, however, that there are many teachers who see this change of plan in a very positive way and for whom the jump to virtual will be easy. A sand square can be a very beautiful square, a great way to use our professional minds and be creative as teachers.he emphasizes

Gradual resumption of classes

The recovery of classes is taking place gradually. The Minister of Education, Jean-François Roberge, asks for it to start from March 30, but he knows that it will take time for some to start their new practices. In several CEGEPs, for example, classes will not start again until the week of April 6.

On the other hand, at the University of Montreal, classes have started again since March 21.

Specifically, online teaching will take many forms. Some teachers will teach lessons live, using video conferencing or chat applications.

Others record their lessons before sending the videos to students. And others will send documents to students and take online assessments.

Luca Sollai, professor of history at the University of Montreal, supported the second option, but finds it difficult to adapt to this new teaching model.

It's definitely a learning experience. It's quite a problematic transition, personally, because I had to reschedule part of my course plan because I obviously had lectures scheduled that were canceled. Since I have a family, the children are at home, it is very difficult to prepare lessons, especially to be able to record themhe explained.

Félix Duberger-Sani, a geography student at the University of Montreal, has already started taking classes again. His opinion is mixed about the beginning of the experience. It's fine for me, but in general I feel like there's a lot of confusion about the information we get. There is an uneven level of transmission of material through different web interfaceshas observed

Report lack of uniformity

Quebec's Minister of Education stated that he would respect the autonomy of secondary education institutions and give them time to organize the resumption of classes. A decision that creates confusion among students and teachers, according to Hubert Rioux, professor of political science at the University of Quebec in Chicoutimi.

This “letter” is the worst approach to take. We welcome teachers and professors more than students. We should adopt a uniform attitude, because at the moment we are imposing completely different situations on students from one course to another, from one teacher to another, regardless of individual contexts.said Mr. Rioux.

He added that the discrepancy in the methods adopted by the educational establishments could have harmful consequences for some students.

Students following the same programs and courses are faced with concretely different requirements from one university to another, and within a few years they will find themselves competing for the same jobs.

Over 110,000 signatures to suspend the session

Some institutions, including the University of Quebec in Rimouski, have decided to credit all courses for which there has been an initial assessment.

A petition signed so far by more than 110,000 people calls for this measure to be applied throughout the province. It's a matter of solidarity and justice, says Élizabeth Leblanc-Michaud, the promoter of the initiative.

Minister Roberge wants students to return to school as soon as possible. Unfortunately, I think it is not a very realistic solution.he says

What I propose is a fair measure. There are students who do not necessarily have the equipment to continue their studies online, who have lost their jobs, who work in the health field or who have children at home full time.adds

Instead of canceling the session, some universities decided to offer a compromise solution. In most courses offered, students can choose to maintain the traditional grading scheme or choose a type grading scheme. success or failure.

It's a good idea according to student Félix Dubergé-Sani. In between I think it's very good. This will allow people who were afraid of seeing their grades influenced by context to avoid grade drops. So it will definitely ease the stress of many students.

Another reality in CEGEPs

When classes were suspended, the university students were nearing the end of the session, while the CEGEP students were only halfway through the semester.

Yves de Repentigny, vice-president of the Quebec National Federation of Teachers (FNEEQ), points out that the transition to online courses presents all kinds of difficulties and that some skills cannot be acquired online.

He recalls that, for some programs, for health techniques, laboratory courses or internships, for example, many questions about the feasibility of the project remain unanswered.

He emphasized that CEGEP teachers have time to prepare to return to virtual classes. What we ask the Ministry and the administration of the establishments is to listen to the teachers as much as possible. When we say that things cannot be done, we must respect the professional opinion of the teachers and look for other solutions.it indicates

Minister Roberge's response

The petition, which has been circulating since March 22, was sent to the Minister of Education. When asked about this, Jean-François Roberg answered that he understands the concerns of students in unknown territory. He reiterates his position that a possible remote return to the classroom is the best option for most programs and for everyone.

If we decided that the session was over, we would prevent many teachers from delivering content when they are ready to do so. And we would prevent many students who want to do that study from doing sohe says

Let's be flexible, let's be creative. I think our higher education system demands it.

Regarding the criticisms about the lack of homogeneity of the measures taken by each establishment, the minister assures that his approach is flexible, but balanced.

The guidelines we gave yesterday, in my opinion, restore the balance […] There is a space of freedom, but at the same time there are also guidelines given by the government. So yes, there are differences [d’un établissement à un autre]but at the same time there is a consistencyhe says

In this context, he added that students who will not be able to follow online courses will not be punished. The timetable was changed to cancel courses without mention of failure and with a refund.

Nutrition education is essential so that everyone, at any age, has the keys to understanding to make informed food choices. As part of the “Food education” axis National Nutrition Program (PNA), the system of “flavor classes” has been extended throughout the territory since 2012, by the Ministry of Agriculture and competent. National Education. It is the right tool to educate young people about food and taste. The desire, now established, is to expand to reach all age groups and beyond the classroom.

Like class device

It is a training program for the initial system of Gustu classes. Designed for 3rd cycle teachers, but which can be used by all youth workers, especially in extracurricular settings, this program aims to encourage reflection on what it means to eat. It is also an opportunity to appreciate familiar or unfamiliar foods, to find pleasure in tasting them, to concentrate on sensations and to overcome the fear of underappreciated foods, such as vegetables, some fruits, some cheeses, etc.

Thus, the program of the favorite class supports the learning of 3 main foundations:

• improving the child's relationship with himself and others;
• developing children's ability to taste, verbalize sensations and choose foods;
• give the whole dimension of the act of eating: live, rejoice and come together.

The program is divided into 8 modules. Each module allows you to (re)discover everyday foods and the region through taste, but also through nose, touch, hearing and sight. These modules help to promote food balance and diversity, knowledge of production methods and (re)discover our nutritional heritage. In addition, speakers can be invited to punctuate the following classes of interest: farmers, food artisans and catering chefs.

This system of taste schools is a complement to the systems focused on education in nutrition and taste, especially around the meals that are made at school. “pleasure in dining” systemand school catering actions.

Establishing a taste class system

The training booklet was designed so that a training course (1 and 2 days) could be conducted by regional representatives, trained in the system themselves. This training can be for teachers and extracurricular support staff, school nurses and dieticians or future teachers from INSPE (Higher National Institutes of Teaching and Education).

If you are interested in the training and/or to find out if your DRAAF/DAAF is implementing “taste school” training, please contact: classes-du-gout.dgal@agriculture.gouv.fr

For teachers, facilitators or dietitians familiar with sensory awareness, the training booklet can be used independently to implement all or part of the modules of the favorite class: the “educational resources” tab allows you to discover and download the topics of the different sessions. independently