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 […]

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of an Online Program to Help Co-op Students Enhance their Employability Skills

Employability skills enhanced in University of Waterloo professional development courses Co-op students at the University of Waterloo who take online professional development courses to enhance their employability skills are generally positive about the value and relevance of the courses, according to a new study from the Higher Education Quality Council (HEQCO). And based on employer […]

Taking Learning Outcomes to the Gym An Assignment-Based Approach to Developing and Assessing Learning Outcomes

Research Summary: Lessons from the gym: Linking assignments to learning outcomes strengthens core skills Can learning technology “workouts” both develop and assess cognitive skills?  Using a muscle-building analogy, the authors of a new study from the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO) find evidence that students can strengthen their self-reflective and critical thinking skills […]

An Assessment of a Blended Learning Model for Information and Geospatial Literacy

Research Summary: Students Find Online Learning Tools Helpful and Convenient Combining online teaching tools with in-class instruction, known as blended learning, gives students the flexibility to adapt learning to their schedule and offers a potential cost savings for institutions. A new study by the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO) examined the impact of […]

The Effectiveness of Anatomy Glove Learning System in the Training of Massage Therapy Students

Research Summary: Students Prefer Using Innovative Tool for Learning Hand Anatomy Students in Humber College’s massage therapy program found that they preferred using a new teaching tool, the Anatomy Glove Learning System (AGLS), for learning the complexities of hand anatomy. The tool was developed by two professors at the University of Toronto to provide students […]

Writing Instruction Using an Online Assignment Planner

Research Summary: Integrating Online Writing Assistance into the Classroom Creates Challenges In an effort to improve writing skills, the Writing Centre at Wilfrid Laurier University developed a series of free online resources and tools for students. However, a recent study by the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario (HEQCO) found that even when integrated into […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]