The Effectiveness of Tutorials in Large Classes: Do they matter?

Tutorials in large classes – for best results go early and often Tutorials are designed to offer students in large classes the opportunity for a more focused discussion and direct engagement with other students and teaching assistants (TAs), but do they have an impact on academic performance? A new study from the Higher Education Quality […]

Discovering the Benefits of a First-Year Experience Program for At-Risk Students: Quantitative Follow-upAnalysis

Lakehead University examines impact of its Gateway program on student success A new study from the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO) examines Lakehead University’s Gateway program, which was developed to help non-traditional students – those who do not meet the entrance requirements but who exhibit academic potential – enrol and succeed in university. […]

Cross-Disciplinary Collaborative Course Design: Successes and Challenges from an Implementation at OCAD University

OCAD pilot examines cross-disciplinary development of online learning Capitalizing on the diverse range of experience and knowledge of its faculty, OCAD University launched a program to bring faculty from different disciplines in its School of Design together to develop online learning resources. A new report by the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO) found […]

Preparing Bachelor of Education Candidates to Teach in Ontario’s Northern, Remote, First Nations, Métis and Inuit Communities

New graduates offer insights on teaching in First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities A group of recent Bachelor of Education graduates from Laurentian University share their perspectives on teaching in northern, remote, First Nations, Métis and Inuit (FNMI) communities in a new report from the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO). Project description Between […]

@ Issue Paper No. 22 – Pitfalls and Potential: Lessons from HEQCO-Funded Research on Technology-Enhanced Instruction

Technology-Enhanced Learning: Pitfalls and Potential Seizing the digital vernacular, technology-assisted learning is trending in higher education. But these new and emerging technologies should be positioned as tools – as means to an end rather than as ends in themselves, cautions a new report from the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO). Technology will be […]

The Effects of Developmental Communication Instruction on Language Skills and Persistence at Four Ontario Colleges

Study examines developmental communication courses in college sector Communication is a core employability skill and many colleges have instituted developmental communication courses to help strengthen these skills in students who are admitted to college but do not have the expected ‘college-level English’ proficiency. A new study from the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario both […]

Measuring the Economic Impact of Postsecondary Institutions

Input/output economic impact studies only tell part of the story Economic impact studies have become a staple of postsecondary institutional accountability but the basic ‘input-output’ approach, while relatively simple and inexpensive to undertake, is telling only part of the story – and not the part that’s of greatest interest to the public or government decision-makers, […]

Understanding the Gender Gap in Postsecondary Education Participation The Importance of High School Choices and Outcomes

Gender Gap in University Participation Traces Back to Early High School Decisions Recent studies show that women account for more than 60% of Canadian university graduates. A new study by the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO) finds that the university gender gap can be explained by choices and academic performance in high school, […]

Outcomes Based Education Initiatives in Ontario Postsecondary Education Case Studies

Faculty buy-in necessary for success in outcomes-based education There is growing interest in outcomes-based education (OBE) initiatives that define, teach and assess learning outcomes. But getting faculty on board and changing their attitudes toward outcomes-based processes is important to the successful adoption of learning outcomes in Ontario’s postsecondary institutions, according to a new report from […]