Bridging the Gap: The Impact of the ‘Teaching in the Canadian Classroom’ Program on the Teaching Effectiveness of International Teaching Assistants

Research Summary: Program helps international graduate teaching assistants manage pedagogical culture clash Graduate student teaching assistants (TAs) are a staple of university education in Canada.  Plentiful among them – particularly in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) disciplines – are international students from other countries and cultures where higher education is primarily teacher-centered and where […]

The Role of New Faculty Orientations in Improving the Effectiveness of Postsecondary Teaching Part 2: College Sector

College/University Collaboration Could Improve Quality of Teaching and Learning While postsecondary teaching development programs continue to receive considerable investments of time and money, their impact has only rarely been studied or evaluated. The second of a two-part study commissioned by the Higher Education Quality Council (HEQCO) on new faculty orientations and teaching development in Ontario’s […]

Information Literacy Competency Standards for Students: A Measure of the Effectiveness of Information Literacy Initiatives in Higher Education

Research Summary: No Simple Solution for Improving Students’ Research and Critical Evaluation Skills The ability to locate, evaluate and accurately utilize complex information, often referred to as information literacy, is a critical skill for success in school, work and life. A new study by the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO) recommends colleges and […]

Researching Teaching and Student Outcomes in Postsecondary Education A Guide

Research Summary: Improving student success: Guide helps practitioners assess teaching and learning As the quality of higher education moves up on the public agenda, the scholarship of teaching and learning is moving front and centre in Ontario’s colleges and universities. Among the signposts: teaching and learning centres at most Ontario postsecondary institutions; the emergence of […]

Impact of Sheltered ESL Support Programming on Student Engagement and Academic Performance at OCAD University

Research Summary: Program-Specific ESL Courses Increase Academic Performance, Student Engagement Many English as a Second Language (ESL) students say their limited language skills create barriers to academic success, such as not actively participating in class, trouble collaborating with other students and increased difficulty working independently. A new study by the Higher Education Quality Council of […]

Student Services at Queen’s University: An Evaluation of the Supported Learning Groups Pilot Program

Research Summary: Additional course support at Queen’s has mixed results in improving grades, engagement and retention As class sizes grow and budgets are squeezed, instructors at Queen’s University are finding new ways to improve learning. One approach, known as Supported Learning Groups, pairs upper year undergraduate students who have completed the course with students who […]

@ Issue Paper No. 12 Teaching and Learning Centres: Their Evolving Role Within Ontario Colleges and Universities

Research Summary: Teaching and Learning Centres at Risk of Being Unable to Meet Needs of Students and Educators Teaching and learning centres are responsible for improving teaching effectiveness at institutions across Ontario, through workshops, instructional resources and ongoing professional development.  But a new @Issue paper by the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO),  Teaching and […]

The Role of New Faculty Orientations in Improving the Effectiveness of University Teaching – Part 1: University Sector

Research Summary: New faculty are focus of university programs to improve teaching quality The quality of postsecondary teaching is on the public agenda amid calls for greater accountability for what students learn and how well they learn it. If tomorrow’s teaching quality begins with today’s new faculty, a study on their professional development commissioned by […]

The Communications Adjunct Model: An Innovative Approach to Language and Literacy Remediation for Adult Learners

New strategies, rigorous evaluation needed to improve literacy skills of postsecondary students Low literacy levels are not only an impediment to success in higher education; Canadian adults with lower literacy levels have significantly lower employment rates and incomes, higher rates of unemployment and are less likely to be engaged in their community. While colleges and […]