If you are thinking about becoming a teacher, OISE offers...
A distinguished history -- a dynamic future
University of Toronto has offered teacher education programs since 1906. Since 1996 we have offered our teacher education programs at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto.
OISE is among the largest faculties at the University and one of the largest faculties of education in North America.
Many different programs to choose from
OISE believes that offering programs of different lengths and with different entry points allows the most diverse range of potential teachers access to initial teacher education and allows potential teachers to prepare themselves as they deem appropriate to their needs
The Master of Teaching (MT) is a two-year graduate degree offered through OISE’s Department of Curriculum, Teaching and Learning (CTL).
All four programs have been designed to reflect not only OISE's and the University's institutional priorities and values, but also the Ontario College of Teachers' regulatory Standards of Practice for the Teaching Profession and the Ethical Standards for the Teaching Profession.
Across these 4 distinct pathways choice is reflected in:
multiple options for Primary/Junior, Junior/Intermediate, Intermediate/Senior, Technological Education
Summer-based Technological Education Apprenticeship Program
26 different Intermediate/Senior teaching subjects (Consecutive B.Ed.)
10 different Junior/Intermediate teaching subjects (Consecutive B. Ed.)
OISE's program pathways have been designed to prepare teacher candidates who are knowledgeable and capable in distinct ways and we are committed to teaching excellence in all of our Program pathways.
Seven principles, informed by research on best practices in teacher education, underpin all four programs:
One of the many strengths of the teaching and learning experience in our programs comes from our staffing model which includes a variety of instructors who are tenure-stream faculty, teaching-stream faculty, seconded instructors from partner school boards; graduate students, and contracted sessional instructors. This model provides students access to a wide range of perspectives and expertise from both the field and the academy. The links with our school partners ensure meaningful and productive connections between theory and practice in teacher education courses and field experiences.
OISE is strongly committed to the values of equity and social justice for all students and the schools where we work. These values are foundational principles of each of our programs and an explicit focus within our course work. There is an expectation that all courses embrace and infuse these principles through discussion and application. It is our goal to embed and highlight how equity issues are inherent in every decision a teacher makes.
As Canada’s leading research university, research is infused throughout every aspect of our initial teacher education program. Current research in teacher education informs the design and delivery of our courses and programs. This can be seen in our pedagogical practice as we use, model and explore cutting-edge, evidence-informed practice with our teacher candidates. Moreover, instructional practice in academic classrooms at OISE is built on current research and theory and instructors explicitly share with candidates how research is informing practice.
Within the program, instructors carry out research projects focusing upon program innovation in areas such as the use of technology, the use of tutoring and the use of supported field work. As well, several cohorts involve the teacher candidates in inquiry and action research projects as part of their course assignments. Commitment to effective use of research is apparent in all we do.
A key feature of our programs is the cohort learning community structure. The cohort is your home while at OISE; a close-knit and dynamic learning community. These cohorts are groups of students who take core courses together, are often grouped together in field placements, experience community building activities, share a faculty team, and engage in reflection about their learning. In both the Elementary and Secondary program, there are various school-site opportunities that allow you to spend much of your program in local area schools.
Our commitment to collaborating with our school partners ensures meaningful and productive connections between theory and practice in teacher education courses and field experiences. All of our programs offer field placement opportunities which significantly exceed certification requirements.
All of our programs give you the opportunity to spend time in regular classrooms and also (if you choose) a wide range of non-traditional and out of classroom educational settings.
Teaching in our cohort-based program structure encourages our instructors to engage collaboratively to deliver and develop a variety of aspects of the program. The cohort teaching team is composed of research and teaching-stream faculty, seconded and contract instructors, and graduate students who serve as Teacher Education Program Assistants. This differentiation in staff complement creates a strong instructional team as a variety of strengths and contributions are brought to each team by members with varying expertise and different roles. These cohort instructor teams cooperatively plan aspects of the program in order to build and reinforce topics, to interconnect assignments, to plan cohort-wide events and activities. Instructors frequently team-teach capitalizing on each instructor’s personal interests and strengths. Mutual support and professional growth in teaching and research are often a direct result of this collaboration.
A focus on building coherence in our programs occurs in many ways. Achieving coherence begins with a common understanding of the key learning outcomes. (See below for link to the Learner Document.) Instructor teams for each cohort meet to plan and design their particular program to achieve these objectives. Connections and reinforcement of key concepts and ideas are determined and strategized. Cohort teams are able to create cross-course assignments and activities to explicitly demonstrate the shared elements and congruence of their courses and approaches to teaching. An integrated approach reduces repetition of topics or assignments, capitalizes on the time spent together, allows for innovation, models integrated curriculum, immerses students in a well-planned program, and offers a level of depth in areas such as literacy, teaching for understanding, etc. (Darling-Hammond, 2000). As part of the cohort model, the commitment to partner schools, shared visions and understandings with associate teachers contribute to the ways that teacher candidates make sense of theory and practice in a coherence way.
While each program pathway has a unique program design, content, and delivery approach, these shared principles build coherence among the four pathways.
Our students are great!
Our students are a diverse group of teacher candidates that reflects the diverse student body in Toronto and Ontario schools. They show an openness and commitment to working towards equity in diverse classrooms and schools and all share the potential of becoming excellent teachers and educational leaders.
Specialized support services for Teacher Candidates
OISE Student Services enhances the intellectual, personal, professional, and career development of students as they engage in academic and professional learning at OISE with activities such as:
Our students have access to all of the services and resources of the University of Toronto including Hart House and and a broad range of leisure and competitive activities to support students in healthy and active lifestyles.
OISE is located on the downtown campus of the University of Toronto. Whether you are taking your program on campus or at one of our school-site locations and only coming in periodically, we are easy to get to. There is an exit into our building directly from the St. George subway station.
We are one of the largest teacher education programs in Canada in terms of enrolment and services available. Many of the services and resources available to teacher candidates in our programs are outlined above. We also have a range of services available to prospective students; if you are interested in OISE, then OISE is interested in you.
