The Language of Learning Outcomes: Definitions and Assessments

Report examines the language of learning outcomes Learning outcomes – what students should know or be able to do at the completion of a course or program – are rapidly replacing credit hours as the preferred unit of measurement for postsecondary learning. But assessment has yet to keep pace with growth, according to a new […]

Evaluating the Effects of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Mentor Program

Study examines Windsor mentorship program’s impact on student retention A peer mentorship program at the University of Windsor has a positive impact on first-year students as well as senior student mentors, according to a new report from the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO). Established in 2005 to improve enrolment and retention by enhancing […]

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, […]