Direct connections with community organizations create better experiential education outcomes By blending theory and practice, it is believed that experiential education helps students develop valuable skills that are directly applicable to careers in their field. A new study by the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO) examines several types of experiential education and finds […]
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Study examines effects of competition on student success Instructors of large classes often face challenges with student motivation. The classroom incentive structure – grades, extra credit, and instructor and peer acknowledgement – may shape student motivations to engage in their studies. Over the course of a year, students in the introductory psychology course at McMaster […]
Pilot course at the University of Ottawa prepares first-year students for university-level French In 2012-13, the University of Ottawa piloted a French course designed to help first-year students transition into university-level French. After completing the course, students felt more confident with their writing, literacy and oral communication skills, which in turn helped them better integrate […]
Numeracy skill development, assessment in Ontario higher education doesn’t add up At a time when numeracy is an essential skill for work and life in general, the development and evaluation of numeracy skills in Ontario’s college and university students doesn’t add up, according to a new report from the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario […]
Health science workshops focus on collaboration Providing effective patient care and treatment requires health professionals from a number of disciplines working collaboratively. However, it is difficult to teach the core skills needed for effective teamwork and cooperation to large groups of students studying diverse subjects with limited clinical access. A new study by the Higher […]
Digital planetariums: Despite the “wow factor,” more evaluation of effectiveness needed Digital planetariums – in which the night’s sky is projected on domed ceilings – have a decided wow factor and today’s interactive versions can bring to life academic studies in astronomy. But more research is needed into their potential effectiveness as a learning tool, […]
Ontario postsecondary internship programs should emphasize educational quality There is significant variation in the structure of internship programs offered in Ontario’s colleges and universities – from length of program to requirements for completion. But a new study from the Higher Education Quality Council (HEQCO) also finds that when viewed through the lens of experiential learning […]
Private Career Colleges an Under Examined Part of Ontario’s Postsecondary System Despite serving 53,000 full time equivalent students, or about 1 in 15 of the province’s postsecondary students, private career colleges are an understudied higher education option in Ontario. A new report by the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO) provides an overview of […]
Business is booming in entrepreneurship education From for-credit courses to business incubators, entrepreneurial activity is on the rise in Ontario’s colleges and universities, according to a new study from the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO). Although variously defined and documented across the province’s 44 postsecondary institutions, entrepreneurial education has been a growing priority […]