Frequently Asked Questions
Before you apply to the Bachelor of Education program at UOIT, you may have many questions. Listed below are the most frequently asked questions, divided into categories. Please check below to see if your questions have been answered.
If you cannot find the answer to your question in the F.A.Q, please fill out the form at the bottom of this page to submit your inquiry. A Faculty representative will respond as soon as possible. (Please don't forget to include your email address.)
Click on a question and you will be brought to the response.
Application Process F.A.Q.
General Program F.A.Q.
Laptop Education F.A.Q.
How much does the laptop program cost?
Am I eligible to apply to the Bachelor of Education program?
Please see our Admission Requirements.
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How do I apply to the Bachelor of Education Program?
You will need to apply through TEAS (Teacher Education Application Service) http://www.ouac.on.ca/teas/. For more information about how to apply, please refer to the Admission Process pages (please also refer to the Admission Requirements for programs offered).
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What are my chances of getting in?
Each applicant has different education and experiences, so we cannot provide a specific answer.
Enrollment into the program is very competitive. Last year we had close to 1300 applicants for the consecutive programs (I/S and P/J combined) and 280 were accepted into the program. We fully expect that even more will apply for the 2010-2011 year.
A composite "grade" is given to each applicant. The composite grade is based upon your transcripts, both your grades and the breadth of your academic courses and the supplementary application (experience, referrals, and an essay question). Those with the highest composite grade will be selected for an interview.
At the interview stage, another "grade" is assigned based upon your written assessment to a case study and an interview with two school principals, teachers or school administrators. Again, those with the highest "grade" are selected to receive an offer of acceptance.
Although we cannot tell you what your specific chances are, if you require clarification on the above process, please feel free to contact us.
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Can someone look at my transcripts/courses to see if I meet the requirements?
Unfortunately, the admissions office does not have the resources to preview applications prior to submission. We receive large numbers of applications for all programs and we must ensure that we respond to these applicants in a timely and attentive manner.
If, after reviewing our admission requirements, you feel you qualify for the Consecutive Teacher Education programs offered at UOIT, you are encouraged to apply. We will be happy to assess your eligibility when we officially review your application.
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Is there a different application for mature students?
Separate application processes for mature applicants exist in undergraduate programs to ensure that older individuals whose high school records may be a bit out of date or who left high school without graduating are given a fair opportunity to get an education. Since the consecutive education program admits only people who have completed university, these concerns do not apply. That is, all of our applicants are mature people. Older students (30 and above) have constituted from 30-60% of past classes.
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I have been out of school for many years. What do I do if I cannot get an Academic Referral Letter for the Supplemental Application?
If you are unable to acquire an academic reference, then please send in a second professional reference letter in its place.
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Do you have special admission circumstances for visible minorities?
The admissions procedures have been designed to ensure that applicants are chosen based on their fit with the academic requirements of the program', demonstrated academic achievement, interest in teaching, and communication skills. The admissions results to date would indicate that visible minorities are well-represented among the admitted students. However, the admissions office and the faculty continue to review this question annually to ensure that the process continues to be fair to all applicants.
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How long is your Consecutive Bachelor of Education program?
The consecutive program is nine months in length. For the 2009/2010 year, the program begins on August 17, 2009 and ends April 29, 2010.
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What is the difference between the different B.Ed programs offered?
UOIT offers three Education programs: two Consecutive Bachelor of Education programs and one Concurrent Education program.
Consecutive Bachelor of Education programs are one year in length and require a previous Bachelor's degree. Primary-Junior is intended for those applicants who would like to teach kindergarten to grade six. Intermediate-Senior is intended for those applicants who would like to teach grades seven to twelve.
There is one Concurrent Education program. This is a five year program for those without a Bachelor's degree. At the end of the five year program, you will graduate with both a Bachelor of Science - Honours and a Bachelor of Education degree. The emphasis is on teaching grades seven to twelve.
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Do you have part time or distance courses?
No. The Bachelor of Education Program is a full time, in class program.
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Do you have a Technical Education Program?
Not at this time.
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How much does the laptop program cost?
The 'Mobile Laptop Fee' is for the 2009/10 year is $1344. This fee can vary from year-to-year depending on the model selected. The laptop fee will cover the hardware of an IBM Thinkpad laptop for the year, all specialized software, support to cover a dedicated laptop specialist, network, hardware and software support, loaner laptops if you need repairs and insurance. We know that you might have your own laptop or could purchase one for a similar price - but you must remember that you get a large collection of software on your machine, have great support and service if there is a breakage and that you are part of program with a consistent image and same machine so teaching and learning with it makes it easier for everyone. The peace of mind you'll have knowing we can give you a 'loaner' if there is a problem, or be on hand immediately to fix a problem will be worth the cost. Trust us - it will be a valued part of your year!
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What if I have a laptop already - will I need it this year?
All students attending UOIT are required to participate in our laptop buyout program. This allows the university to install not only pieces of software that has been purchased by the university, but Ministry Software as well. This similar computer also allows the professors to instruct and teach using the technology more easily as they know everyone has the same hardware and software configuration. All students have equal access to network resources, technical support and software. You will not need your own laptop.
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What kind of software will be on the laptop?
Everything you will need for the program will be provided. Please refer to the software list (link) for a complete list of software provided.
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What types of accessories will I receive with my laptop?
You will receive the following with your laptop:
- AC adapter and power cord
- Network Cable
- Backpack (to carry laptop and all of your books and resources!)
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When do I get my laptop?
The Laptops are distributed for the Bachelor of Education program on the Program Start Day in mid August. This is a special distribution set up for you. Please do not register or attend any other laptop distribution sessions!
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Do we take the laptop with us on practicum?
Yes, you will take your laptop with you on your placement. It is a tool you will become comfortable with during your classes and you are encouraged to use it in your practicum placement as appropriate. You should check with your Associate Teacher to ensure you are aware of any computing policies around external computer usage.
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What happens if there is a problem and the Laptop Support Specialist is not around?
There are several resources available for all students. Our Education Laptop Specialist (Mike Prasad) is on location at our Downtown campus to serve all your laptop needs. If you run into problems on a weekend, the Computer Commons and main Help Desk are open and have staff available to assist you.
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Can I load all my programs on the laptop when I get it?
You are an Administrator user on your laptop. You are able to install anything you wish. Please keep in mind that your laptop is to be used for your school work and some games or programs that you install can cause performance issues.
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Does a mouse come with the laptop? Will I need one?
An external mouse does not come with the laptop (it is built with two mouse options, a 'trackpoint' and 'trackpad'). If you are NOT comfortable using one of these, you are welcome to purchase an external mouse. TIP: It would be strongly advised to buy a mouse if you don't have one as the trackpoint and trackpad navigations do take some time getting used to.
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I have been a MAC user - will I have problems with a PC?
Many basic computing concepts are transferable between a PC and a MAC. If possible you may want to spend a little time over the summer working in a Windows environment to increase your confidence.
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Will we do our assignments on the laptop?
You will work on most of your assignments on the laptop. This doesn't necessarily mean the traditional use of typing a paper. You may need the laptop for internet research or to access library materials. You could have a 'virtual' group meeting, either in WebCT Vista or using an instant message program. You may need to gather data through probe ware and make calculations. You will be asked to download digital video to your laptop and upload to your website.
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Do professors use laptops in their teaching? Will I get lectures and materials online?
All professors integrate technology into their classes. Each course has a WebCT component. WebCT is our online Learning Management System (LMS) where professors can post course information (.pdf documents, PowerPoint presentations, word documents) for students. It is also used for online discussion (often directed by a professor) or quizzes. Each course you take will have its own area within WebCT.
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Do we get a computer course in our program?
Yes. There is a mandatory Fall Tech Course (for PJ and IS) - starting with more novice to intermediate level items and working to more advanced features. This won't be boring for those skilled already but it will take some time to get everyone working at their own speed. Anticipate a fast learning curve for some new things - and please help out peers (a great way to practice your own teaching!).
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How should I back up my hard drive?
All students are responsible for backing up their own files. It would be a good idea to have an external hard-drive or CDs available and to set-up a weekly back-up schedule. A Jump Drive (or Flash Drive or USB key) can be used as a quick back up or for easily transferring information from one computer (laptop or desktop) to another.
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Ask A Question
If you have a question that is not answered on the website, please use the form below to contact the Faculty of Education.
