Productivity Implications of a Shift to Competency-Based Education: An environmental scan and review of the relevant literature

Competency-based higher education in Ontario? Proceed with caution Competency-based education (CBE) might be a pathway to improved postsecondary quality, accountability and cost containment, but a new report from the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO) recommends caution in its application to Ontario’s higher education system. The borders between CBE and traditional programs are dissolving, […]

Innovative Practicum Models in Teacher Education: The Benefits, Challenges and Implementation Implications of Peer Mentorship, Service Learning and International Practicum Placements

Research Reports Appendix – http://www.heqco.ca/SiteCollectionDocuments/Formatted_Appendices_Nipissing2.pdf Research Summary: Innovative teacher education practicums spark professional growth Faculty of Education students (teacher candidates) who participated in innovative practicums said they grew professionally and developed resilience and problem-solving skills, according to a new report from the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO). The study,Innovative Practicum Models in Teacher […]

The Effects of a Required Faculty Development Program on Novice Faculty Self-Efficacy and Teaching

Research Summary: New faculty who participate in required development program more confident in their teaching Durham College’s Certificate in College Teaching, a required faculty development program, helped new faculty develop the skills they need to be better teachers, according to a new report from the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO). Faculty gained confidence […]

Evaluating Critical Thinking and Problem Solving in Large Classes: Model Eliciting Activities for Critical Thinking Development

Measures to assess critical thinking in the classroom should be better integrated into the curriculum There is considerable agreement that critical thinking skills are a desired learning outcome of any postsecondary credential – important in both the personal and professional lives of students and graduates – yet how to measure these skills remains unclear. A […]

Enhanced Learning of Manipulation Techniques using Force-Sensing Table Technology (FSTT)

Research Summary: Force-Sensing Table a Useful Tool for Teaching Chiropractic Skills A tool for teaching chiropractic techniques, Force-Sensing Table Technology (FSTT) measures the nature of the force being applied to the spine and provides real-time feedback to the student and instructor. A new study by the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO) finds that […]

AHELO: The Ontario Experience

Standardized international learning outcomes assessment possible but needs refining The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Assessment of Higher Education Learning Outcomes (AHELO) feasibility study was successful in building international relationships, furthering the discussion on learning outcomes and exploring the potential for a common worldwide student assessment. But as an instrument to produce reliable, […]

Piloting the CLA in Ontario

Research Summary: Large-scale Learning Outcomes Assessments Should Focus on Student Needs to Increase Participation The Council for Aid to Education’s (CAE) Collegiate Learning Assessment (CLA) and college-sector equivalent the Community College Learning Assessment (CCLA) are standardized tests to assess a postsecondary institution’s contribution to the development of students’ key competencies, including critical thinking, analytic problem […]

@ Issue Paper No. 18 Social returns: Assessing the benefits of higher education

Research Summary:More than money: The social impacts of higher education Economic benefits have long been a staple in the on-going debate about the value of higher education.  A new report from the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO) steps away from the market place to examine individual social returns — from civic engagement to […]

Assessing the Impact of Interactive Sampling Using Audience Response Systems

Research Summary: Iclicker technology has little impact on student performance Audience Response Systems (ARS), such as iclickers or electronic voting systems, are becoming more common in the classroom in an effort to better engage students and improve active learning. But a new study from the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO) found that the […]