Developing Teaching Assistants as Members of the University Teaching Team

Research Summary: Teaching assistants (and their students) benefit from formal training programs Formal training programs for teaching assistants (TAs) inform their teaching practices and can lead to improved student learning experiences according to a new study from the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario. Developing Teaching Assistants as Members of the University Teaching Team  examined two […]

Hybrid Learning in a Canadian College Environment

Research Summary: College study: Successful hybrid classes still depend on instructor abilities College courses that mix traditional face-to-face instruction with online learning appeal to both students and faculty, but the success of these hybrid classes is largely dependent on the abilities of the instructor, particularly their technological skills, dedication and organization, according to a new […]

The Diversity of Ontario’s Colleges: A Data Set to Inform the Differentiation Discussion

Research Summary: College degree granting dominates differentiation discussion While degree granting by Ontario colleges is barely a decade old and only 4% of the province’s college students are enrolled in degree programs, the topic dominates current discussions about college differentiation. A new report from the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO) says that moving […]

Recruiting Students for Research in Postsecondary Education: A Guide

Research Summary: Guide gives researchers tools to recruit students for research projects When research projects involve student participation, recruiting students is an important yet challenging part of the process. Recruiting Students for Research in Postsecondary Education: A Guide, published by the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO), provides an overview for researchers on how students […]

Large First-Year Course Re-Design to Promote Student Engagement and Student Learning

Research Summary: Students More Engaged When Instructors Focus on Interaction Instead of Lectures Many students are concerned about the learning challenges presented by large first-year university classes, particularly the “impersonal” nature of lectures. A new study by the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO) finds that by re-designing courses to provide lecture content online […]

Linguistic Heterogeneity and Non-Traditional Pathways to Postsecondary Education in Ontario

Research Summary: Francophone peer mentorship program eases the transition to postsecondary education As North America’s largest bilingual (English-French) postsecondary institution, the University of Ottawa enrols significant numbers of anglophone and francophone students from across Canada and internationally. Most of its students, however, come from across Ontario, often from communities that are linguistically and culturally diverse.  […]

Active Learning Strategies in Introductory Financial Accounting Classes

Research Summary: Tracking Student Engagement Can Help Address “First-Year Problem” First-year introductory courses introduce a large number of students from diverse backgrounds to new material and learning environments. For instructors and administrators, the size and scope of these courses present student success, retention and engagement challenges, sometimes called the “first-year problem.”  A new study by […]

Returning to High School in Ontario Adult Students Postsecondary Plans and Program Supports

Research Summary: Adult high school students aiming for higher education Most adults return to high school because they want to pursue postsecondary education, according to a new study from the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO). The most often cited reasons for going back were the need for a better paying job, to train […]

How Online Learning Affects Productivity, Cost and Quality in Higher Education: An Environmental Scan and Review of the Literature

Research Summary: Online education should bring effective learning and cost savings Online education has the potential to provide high-quality learning – for some students, in some fields of study – at significantly lower unit costs than traditional forms of instruction and those savings should help fund the cost of improving face-to-face learning, according to a […]