Zach Palardy, a history enthusiast, diehard Green Bay Packers fan and now an aspiring teacher, began his ULethbridge journey in 2020 pursuing a Bachelor of Science (Chemistry) with a minor in mathematics. A true testament to the transformative nature of post-secondary school, five years later, Zach is now set to complete his final semester of a Bachelor of Arts in history degree before commencing the Bachelor of Education (After-Degree) Program later this year. This significant change of direction in his academic path was inspired by one course, Education 2500: Orientation to Teaching.
“Ed 2500 greatly impacted my overall education because I now know the route I want to take. I want to become the best-educated version of myself that I can be. I’ve always enjoyed history—and it’s become my passion, but now I am able to enjoy it in a different way because I know in the future, I will be able to teach it.”
Education 2500 is the only Faculty of Education course available to students from all other ULethbridge programs that will additionally count towards their degree requirements.
“The Education 2500 course is about exploration and discovery. Students have the opportunity to work in schools with students and teachers in a practicum setting, while consolidating what they learn with an experienced instructor and their peers at the university”, says Aaron Stout, Instructor and Education 2500 Coordinator in the Faculty of Education. “Throughout the semester students will be asked to consider the question, 'Do I want to be a teacher?'—The goal of the course is to provide a foundational understanding of the role of education in society and allow you to situate your place in it.”
Zach's interest in teaching and decision to take Education 2500 were inspired by his high school social studies and chemistry teachers who challenged him to push himself and fuelled his desire to be an active learner.
“I think being a teacher can inspire a lot of different people the way it inspired me. I felt like paying that forward and being able to help people in their own educational journey. If I could make that my career and help future generations learn and grow, I think that would be a true blessing."
As he sets his sights on graduation and a return to the classroom in the After-Degree Program, Zach urges others to explore their own curiosities by taking Education 2500 and consider the possibility of teaching.
“If anyone is on the fence about taking Ed 2500, I would definitely say—one hundred percent—do it. You won’t know if you want to be a teacher unless you try it. Even if you don’t want to become an educator by the end, you'll learn so much from the course.”
Click here to learn more about Education 2500: Orientation to Teaching.