Faculty Bios
Dr. Barrie Bennett
Barrie Bennett is an associate professor at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto (OISE). He currently has a cross appointment to the undergraduate and graduate programs. His research work focuses primarily on the design of powerful learning environments for students and teachers through the process of systemic change. He is currently working in districts in three countries on long-term projects related to instructional intelligence and systemic change. The idea of instructional intelligence is at the core of his work. He also assists teachers, schools, and districts with issues related to classroom management and school wide-discipline. Barrie has taught at the elementary and secondary levels, as well as, having worked in group homes, prisons, and security units for juvenile offenders. He has written four books: Cooperative Learning: Where Heart Meet Mind; Classroom Management: A Thinking and Caring Approach; Beyond Monet: The Artful Science of Instructional Integration and most recently: Graphic Intelligence: Playing With Possibilities. Another book, Power Struggles in the Classroom: From Start to Finish will be coming out this summer.
Dr. Clare Brett
Dr. Brett is currently Associate Chair for Graduate Studies in the Department, and Associate Professor in the area of Education and Knowledge Technologies. Her research interests are focused in investigating technical and social supports, as well as challenges, for collaborative online learning and their application for online graduate apprenticeship. She has taught in both the pre-service and graduate programs, offering courses in educational psychology as well as online graduate courses: Theories of Learning and the Design of Online Learning Environments, and Educational Applications of Computer Mediated Communications. She also gives faculty workshops and presentations in the area of online learning with graduate as well as preservice faculty. Dr. Brett was has received a number of research grants including ones from SSHRC and the Canadian Foundation for Innovation as well as a Distinguished Contributions to Teaching award.
Dr. Jackie Eldridge
Dr. Jackie Eldridge is a lecturer at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education and at Brock University. Currently she teaches Fundamentals of Teaching and Learning and a course called From Student Teacher to Professional in the Master of Teaching Program at OISE. Additionally she teaches Curriculum Methods in the Bachelor of Education Program at Brock. Dr. Eldridge’s teaching and research interests include holistic teaching and learning, teacher identity and the ethics of care.
Dr. Mark Evans
Mark is sr. lecturer in the Department of Curriculum, Teaching and Learning and former associate dean, teacher education at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto. His research and teaching focus primarily on teacher education, curriculum and instructional design, and citizenship education and he has been involved in a variety of curriculum and teacher education reform initiatives, both locally and internationally. Mark’s work endeavours to address the complex interplay of theory, policy, and practice and to bring about improved learning experiences for educators and students.
Garfield Gini-Newman
In addition to his work at the University of Toronto as a senior lecturer in Initial Teacher Education programs, Garfield has also authored seven textbooks and has taught in the faculties of education at York University and the University of British Columbia. Garfield’s interest in effective teaching and learning has led him to actively exploring the challenges and opportunities presented by teaching and learning in the digital age. He has led major projects working with schools to explore the use of interactive technologies to support critical thinking, and using digital technologies to enhance critical, creative and collaborative thinking. Garfield has spoken across Canada and internationally on critical thinking, brain compatible classrooms, curriculum design and effective assessment practice, and nurturing 21st century skills in a digital world.
Garfield’s five years as a curriculum consultant with the York Region District School Board and his 15 years of teaching experience prepared him well for working with teachers in a manner that is engaging and practical. Garfield’s reputation as a dynamic and provocative speaker is widespread and requests for his services have taken him from Hong Kong and Switzerland to Antigua and Bermuda.
Reg Hawes
Reg is an instructor at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto and a teacher at the University of Toronto Schools. He has an extensive background in social science and history and has co-authored textbooks in both areas. His areas of research include innovations in curriculum design as well as the intersection of religion and politics in education.
Kelly Juhasz
Kelly Juhasz is the lead at the The Knowledge Transfer Company. As a knowledge builder, Kelly has focused on professional development and adult education. She has worked for numerous higher educational institutions creating eLearning and blended learning programs and has consulted on strategy and program development for many of Canada’s largest companies.
Kelly is the past Vice President of Canada for Viviance new education, an early elearning dot-com, and past steering committee member of the Knowledge Media Design Institute at the University of Toronto. She is a past Board and eLearning Special Segment Group member of Interactive Ontario and acts as a Specialist Industry Advisor on the Interactive Digital Media Fund for the Ontario Media Development Corporation.
Kelly holds several degrees including a Master of Information with specializations in Knowledge Media Design and Archival Science from the University of Toronto; a B.A. in Communications and a B.A. in Theory and History of Art from the University of Ottawa; and a Diploma in Marketing from the Academy of Design and Technology.
Dr. Elizabeth Smyth
Elizabeth Smyth is Professor and Vice Dean (Programs) at theSchool of Graduate Studies, University of Toronto where her portfolios include all elements of the Final Oral Examination process, management of the Appointments to the School of Graduate Studies, Quality Assurance and Governance within the School, new program development, collaborative program review, joint doctoral placement development and the implementation of the University of Toronto Quality Assurance Process. She is the Presidential appointee to the Board of the Toronto School of Theology. She is member of the Department of Curriculum Teaching and Learning (CTL), cross appointed to the Department of Theory and Policy Studies. Since her appointment to OISE in 1989, she has been involved in all aspects of graduate education, including teaching, supervision at both the Master’s and Doctoral level and program review. She has served as Associate Chair of the Graduate Department of Curriculum, Teaching and Learning and Acting Director of the Teacher Education Program (Elementary). She has been a member of the SSHRC Standard Research Grants adjudication panel, has chaired program reviews for the Ontario College of Teachers and served as a panel member for the Postsecondary Education Quality Assessment Board. Her current SSHRC funded research includes: Leading Sisters, Changing Times: Women Religious in English Canada in the Post Vatican II World (Principal Investigator); Academics: the tenure process in social science (Collaborating Investigator) and The State of the Consecrated Life in Contemporary Canada. (Collaborating Investigator). She has served as a member of She is a member of the U of T Governing Council. She is a Senior Fellow of Massey College and a Fellow of the University of St Michael's College. For her course of research on the history of women religious, she was awarded the George Edward Clerk Medal for outstanding contribution to Canadian religious history by the Canadian Catholic Historical Association and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International History of Women Religious Network.
Dr. Carol Rolheiser
Carol Rolheiser is the Director of the Centre for Teaching Support & Innovation (CTSI) at the University of Toronto and a Professor in the Department of Curriculum, Teaching and Learning at OISE. In addition to her varied roles at OISE, including Associate Dean of Teacher Education, Carol has been a teacher, district consultant, and school administrator. Her work with a wide range of educational organizations worldwide has focused on instructional and assessment innovation, teacher development, school improvement, leadership, teacher education redesign, system reform, teaching in higher education, and managing educational change. Professor Rolheiser is a recipient of the University of Toronto's President's Teaching Award and a member of the University of Toronto's Teaching Academy, honouring her career commitment to excellence in teaching, research in teaching, and the integration of teaching and research.