Socials 11

Social Studies 11 with Sam will cover the rapid development and proliferation of communication and transportation technologies in the 20th Century. Students will explore how these developments led to profound changes in personal and national identities, with special emphasis on the effects on their own identity as Canadian citizens. From here, students will go on to explore the implementation of economic theories, such as capitalism, communism and socialism, and their complex effects on social and political decision making and movements over the past 100 years. The course will investigate how the history of colonialism and its devastating consequences for indigenous peoples continue to greatly impact society and life today – students will learn that the intentional destruction of a culture is not inevitable and that any such attempt can be disrupted and resisted with an understanding of one’s own historical context.

Your Educator – Sam O’Connell

Born in Vancouver, Sam was raised in Dublin, Ireland. Sam graduated with an honours degree in Biology from the National University of Ireland, Maynooth before returning to Canada. From a young age she has been working with kids of all ages, who were struggling, in and out of the classroom from instructing swimming with Special Olympics Ireland to teaching IT classes in the local school. Through this experience she realised that one method doesn’t suit all when it comes to learning and we need to embrace that! In her spare time Sam can be found skating and playing ice hockey at many of the local rinks around Vancouver. She also loves listening to (and playing guitar to) all kinds of music. Phil Collins is a firm favourite though. Other hobbies include reading biographies and crime fiction books or playing video games. She is excited to bring her experience to BrainBoost!