"Write-Ins", also known as writing boot camps, are full-day sessions where doctoral students bring their laptops and their work (theses, comps, assignments) to write in a quiet space, uninterrupted, for the day. They are designed to give you a pleasant and supportive place to write, alongside fellow thesis travelers. During the session, no talking, social media or phone calls allowed in the room. Faculty are on-hand if you choose to step out to consult about any aspect of your doctoral thesis proposal or drafts.
Please register in advance.

Due to worsening conditions, all classes starting at 4pm or later at the St. George campus are cancelled. Buildings and facilities remain open.

With very heavy hearts, the OISE community shares the news of the passing of Professor Jack Quarter of the Department of Leadership, Higher and Adult Education. In honour of his memory and impact, we remember our dear colleague and friend Dr. Quarter. Read more.

As part of the Ontario government's effort to reduce the deficit, Education Minister Lisa Thompson is looking at the possibility of increasing class sizes from kindergarten to Grade 3. "This is a bad idea on many fronts," wrote doctoral student Sachin Maharaj in a recent op-ed with the Toronto Star. "It will harm student learning, is going to be unpopular with the public, and is not going to end up saving much money." Read more.

How does it feel to be Man of the Year? Just ask OISE alum Dr. Dan Andreae, recognized as one of the most accomplished individuals in education and philanthropy in 2018 by Top 100 Registry Inc. A distinguished professor and dedicated community volunteer, Dr. Andreae also received the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Association of Top Professionals for his contributions in psychology and higher education. Read more.

Canadian universities have historically enjoyed high levels of institutional autonomy compared to their counterparts in other countries, but a recent study of six research-intensive universities in five provinces finds that this autonomy "appears to be declining in the face of increasing government regulation and accountability measures." Read more.

Congratulations to OISE Alumni Association's Tracey King. She is the 2019 recipient of the Alan Shepard Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Employee Award for her commitment to EDI through Indigenous knowledge and learning. Tracey is Ryerson University's Aboriginal Human Resources Consultant and a dedicated volunteer at the University of Toronto and OISE. Read more.

For students in remote northern Ontario communities, access to school psychologists and psychological assessment services is scarce, or often non-existent. One-time assessments are frequently not helpful, as they do not adequately address the changing needs of individuals and the community over time. Despite the poor accessibility of these fundamental services, Dr. Todd Cunningham has found a way to reach more students in need of such services-through their teachers. Read more.

OISE researchers are playing a leading role in addressing the unique mental health challenges that young people are facing in today's world. From shedding light on how parents and schools can better support emerging adults to exploring how social media platforms can support the wellbeing of Indigenous youth, here are some of the ways OISE experts are making an impact. Read more.

Charles Pascal, an education expert who served as an adviser to McGuinty, said full-day kindergarten has been shown to provide an important foundation for children. "The research that's been done over the last number of years shows that when it comes to social, emotional and literacy gain, the full-day learning programis improving the outcomes of kids." Read more.

OISE alum and author Carrianne Leung recounts immigrating from Hong Kong to Scarborough in the 1970s. Now, she returns as UTSC's writer-in-residence, sharing her unique lens on racism, mental illness, queerness and first-generation experiences in her work. Read more.

OISE Professor Charles Pascal, a former deputy minister of education, weighs in as the Ontario government plans changes to class sizes, full-day kindergarten as well as school hiring practices. Read more in Toronto Star.

Annually, the Fraser Institute produces a "report card" on Ontario elementary schools, a practice which has been criticized by educators and researchers as a problematic use of EQAO results for ranking schools. OISE Professor Carol Campbell, who led a recent independent review of assessment and reporting for the Ontario government, weighs in. Read more.

The Friedrich Froebel Early Childhood Education Scholarship for graduate students in OISE's Child Study and Education Program will help talented future educators overcome financial barriers to study and success. It will support students conducting research in early childhood education methods, including Froebel's approach and philosophy that education should focus on social and personal growth as well as academic development that reaches beyond the classroom. Read more.

PhD student Mama Adobea Nii Owoo is urging for equal opportunities for the Deaf in Ghana. With inadequate interpretation and translation services in Ghanaian schools, more Deaf students are forfeiting their schooling, says Nii Owoo, who explains why Ghana needs an official sign language policy. Read more in National Post.

Congratulations to OISE Professor Stephanie Waterman who has won the Outstanding Contribution to Higher Education Award from NASPA, the largest organization for student affairs in North America. Professor Waterman is deeply committed to advancing Indigenous graduate student success and student affairs. Read more.

In 2018, Khulood Khan was in her final year of the Master of Teaching program at OISE when she was awarded the Biggar Hedges Award in Teaching and Technology. Now, with an EdD at OISE underway, Khulood shares her experiences as an immigrant student in Canada and her plans to use education to empower girls in Pakistan. Read more.

A desire to be 'uncomfortable' is what led Jordan Guerrero-Martinez, a second year Master of Teaching student, to OISE. Believing that personal growth occurs outside your comfort zone, Jordan says his studies at OISE have enabled him to think outside the box. Read more in OISE Student Ambassador Blog.

Congratulations to OISE Professor Roy Moodley, who received an Award of Recognition at the International Conference on Counselling, Psychotherapy and Wellness. The award was presented to Dr. Moodley in recognition of his committed contribution to the field of counselling and psychotherapy. Read more.

OISE alum Drorit Weiss uses rap videos to support her students in her senior math class at a Vaughan private school. She credits OISE Professor Ron Lancaster as the inspiration for her innovative teaching methods: "He's so innovative. He made math fun. Having his support, having him thinking I'm a good teacher, it empowered me," she said. Read more.

"By 2030, 85% of the jobs that exist have not been invented yet," says OISE alum Dr. Rumeet Billan. Dr. Billan discusses how to prepare your child for future jobs that don't exist yet by shaping the conversation on becoming who you want to be. It's a theme that resonates with both children and adults in her new bestseller 'Who Do I Want to Become?'. Watch on Breakfast Television.

New research by Professor Janette Pelletier shows that full-day kindergarten on children's self-regulation, reading, writing, and number knowledge to the end of Grade 2, including some benefits for vocabulary. In addition, full-day kindergarten children were significantly more likely to meet provincial expectations for reading in Grade 3. Read more.

Anti-pipeline protests across Canada have prompted questions of how Indigenous governance works, namely what the differences are between non-elected hereditary chiefs and band councils elected by First Nations. Professor Jeffrey Ansloos breaks it down. Read more.

Percy Lezard realized they were functionally illiterate once they enrolled into post-secondary education. After 20 years of field experience, they now hold a position at the University of Manitoba's Inner City Social Work Program. Read more.

The OISE community mourns the loss of Professor Emeritus David Booth who passed away on December 22, 2018. His career in education spans sixty years as a classroom teacher, consultant, professor, researcher, speaker and author. "David was a very special member of our community. He was an outstanding colleague, friend, teacher and mentor. This is a very sad loss for our community," said OISE Dean Glen Jones. A celebration of Professor Booth's life will be held in the spring of 2019 with details to come. Read more.

OISE Professor Michal Perlman and PhD student Petr Varmuza say the Ontario government's proposed changes to home child-care legislation threaten kids' safety and well-being in licensed and unlicensed child-care settings. Under the proposed changes, care providers would be allowed to care for more children under the age of 13, not including providers' own kids above the age of four. "More regulation and support for providers is necessary, not less." Read more in The Conversation.

In 2018, OISE continued to be a leader in the world of education. Every day, our students, faculty and staff were breaking boundaries, conducting ground-breaking research, and exploring new frontiers to change the future of education. Take a look back at some of OISE's top successes in 2018. Read more.

Enjoy the magic of our Winter Wonderland and Community Skate with our holiday video.

On December 10, over 250 OISE students, faculty, staff, alumni, and their family and friends laced up their skates for OISE's first annual Winter Wonderland event at the University of Toronto's Varsity Stadium. Read more.

Congratulations to OISE professor Normand Labrie, who was appointed Chair of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) on November 30. The SSHRC is the federal research funding agency that promotes and supports postsecondary-based research and research training in the humanities and social sciences. Read more.

OISE Professor and psychologist Dr. Jeffrey Ansloos comments on issues around the lack of people of colour in the counselling and social services fields. Read more at Global News.

Congratulations to OISE Professor Cecilia Morgan who has been named one of ten Faculty Research Fellows at the University of Toronto Jackman Humanities Institute (JHI) for 2019-2020. Fellows are chosen for both their research excellence and the promise of their proposed research program. "I'm delighted to be joining the vibrant, interdisciplinary research community at the JHI," Professor Morgan said. Read more.

The 2019 World University Rankings by Subject ranked the University of Toronto among the top ten public universities globally in education. As well, U of T rose in four subject areas in this year's rankings including the social sciences. Read more.

Recent OISE graduate Breanna Heels has won the Innovation in Teaching Geography Award from the Royal Canadian Geographical Society - its highest award in teaching. Breanna was featured at RCGS's Canadian Geographic Education, of which she has been a member since the start of her teaching career. Congratulations!

OISE alum Julie Hay is a testament to how a master of education degree can bring new perspectives into your life. As a business leader in a fast-changing market, Julie shares how she learned to master being in balance while staying true to what she enjoys. Read more.

November 1 marks the start of Indigenous Education Month. Throughout this month, OISE News will introduce you to Indigenous people from the OISE community who are making an impact in this important area. Read more.

Throughout Indigenous Education Month, OISE News will be profiling Indigenous people from the OISE community who are doing work in Indigenous education. Through these conversations, we'll explore the question: 'How can Indigenous education advance justice for Indigenous peoples?' Today, we chat with Fernanda Yanchapaxi, a doctoral student at OISE. Yanchapaxi was born and raised in Ecuador, and is of Indigenous and Meztizx heritage. Read more.

OISE doctoral student Emmanuel Tabi shares his thoughts on the recent uptick in passionate fans taking rap rivalries off-stage. "Fans today feel closer to their idols than those of years past because artists get personal with their work and share their daily lives on social media," says Tabi, whose research examines cultural production and its intersection with education and activism. Read more at CBC News.

In the wake of a scandal at St. Michael's College School Toronto, former deputy minister of education and OISE professor Charles Pascal calls for greater oversight of privately run schools. Read more at the Toronto Star.

The recent allegations of assault and sexual assaults by students at St. Michael's College School in Toronto has prompted discussions on the role of 'toxic masculinity' as a key factor in perpetuating and aggravating acts of violence among young men. It may express itself in bullying, and can escalate from verbal harassment to extreme cases of physical assault, says OISE professor Roy Gillis, whose research focuses bullying, homophobia and hate crime victimization. Read more.

OISE professor John Miller's new book looks at the role love and compassion play in education. He recently sat down with Harvard Ed. Magazine to discuss compassion, seeing students as individuals, and why, at age 74, he still loves teaching. Read more.

OISE Professor Roy Gillis discusses the recent St. Michael's College School scandal involving six students at the private school and provides his analysis of toxic masculinity and ritualized violence in connection to the incident. Watch at CTV News.

Throughout Indigenous Education Month, OISE News will be profiling Indigenous people from the OISE community who are doing work in Indigenous education. Through these conversations, we'll explore the question: 'How can Indigenous education advance justice for Indigenous peoples?' Today, we chat with Jennifer Brant, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Curriculum, Teaching and Learning. Dr. Brant is from the Mohawk Nation and has family ties to Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory and Six Nations of the Grand River Territory. Read more.

Former OISE professor Andy Hargreaves and Pasi Sahlberg share common obstacles, trends and notable gains in math education in Australia and Canada, and why embracing math is so important. Read more at The Conversation Canada.

Throughout Indigenous Education Month, OISE News will be profiling Indigenous people from the OISE community who are doing work in Indigenous education. Through these conversations, we'll explore the question: 'How can Indigenous education advance justice for Indigenous peoples?' Today, we chat with Dallas Fiddler, a Research Projects Coordinator and Indigenous Community Liaison with Professor Jeffrey Ansloos' Research Lab at OISE. Read more.

The Dr. Eric Jackman Institute of Child Study lab school's garden revitalization project is working to rejuvenate land to include diverse cultural and ecological perspectives. Read more.

Grace Karram Stephenson, a triple graduate and postdoctoral fellow at OISE, discusses her journey in comparative, international and development education and how she hopes to make an impact in the field. Read more.

Meet Melinda Scott. She is the dean of students at University College and she now has a PhD in higher education under her belt. This impressive OISE grad is getting the most of her U of T experience. Read more.

Responding to the TRC's Calls to Action around education, the Dr. Eric Jackman Institute of Child Study (EJICS) Lab School has included lessons on Treaties in its curriculum while providing teachers with models for bringing Indigenous education into the classroom. Recently, with the expertise of Indigenous Professor Jennifer Wemigwans from OISE and Niigaanibines from Treaty #3 territory, the Lab School's Grade 1 and 5 classes explored Treaties and the Seven Grandfather Teachings based on a respectful and reciprocal pedagogy. Read more.

When John Horton joins his fellow graduates at convocation this week, there will be one thing setting him apart from his classmates-the fact that he is receiving his degree at 80 years old. On November 8, the octogenarian will graduate with a Doctor of Education from OISE, making him U of T's oldest graduate in 2018. Read more.

Jennifer Brant joined the University of Toronto's Ontario Institute for Studies in Education in August as an assistant professor in the department of curriculum, teaching and learning. With seven years of experience in university teaching and program co-ordination in Indigenous education, she is an accomplished Indigenous feminist scholar whose research focuses on Indigenous education and literature. She spoke recently to OISE's Kaitlyn Balkovec. Read more.

Since starting her Master of Arts in 2016, the Kanyenkehá:ka (Mohawk) scholar has extended her commitment to anti-colonial and anti-racist education far beyond the classroom, playing a leading role in advancing anti-racism on campus. Read more.

Sakina Rizvi was 17 when she graduated from her program studying the history of religion at the University of Toronto's Mississauga campus. This fall, she has started her Master of Education degree at OISE and is hoping to wrap up a PhD by age 25. Read more.

Do you know an OISE student who's making a difference? Nominate them for a 2019 Gordon Cressy Student Leadership Award! The Cressy Awards recognize students who have made outstanding extra-curricular contributions at OISE, the University of Toronto and/or the broader community. Faculty, staff and alumni may nominate a student at OISE before November 14. Learn more.

Professor James Slotta has been appointed to the President's Chair in Education and Knowledge Technologies for a five-year term from July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2024. Read more.

November 1 marks the start of Indigenous Education Month. Throughout this month, OISE News will spotlight Indigenous people from the OISE community who are doing work in Indigenous education. Through these conversations, we'll explore the question: 'How can Indigenous education advance justice for Indigenous peoples?' Today, we start with Sandi Wemigwase. Sandi is a member of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians from Harbor Springs, Michigan and is currently a 3rd year doctoral student at OISE. Read more.

OISE Professor Carol Campbell and team have published one of the largest studies of teachers' professional learning and leadership. What they found is when professional learning is experienced by teachers, they will share their knowledge and positive outcomes which provides sustained impact for students, educators, families and communities. Read the new report.

In October 2018, more than 150 educators gathered in Treaty #3 Territory (Fort Frances, Ontario) for the Gaa-izhi-izhitwaawaad anishinaabeg: Culturally Responsive Teaching and Learning Conference, a collaboration among Seven Generations Education Institute, Rainy River District School Board, the University of Toronto's Ontario Institute for Studies in Education and the Dr. Eric Jackman Institute of Child Study's Robertson Program and Natural Curiosity. Read more.

OISE professor and alumnus Marvin Zuker, a former judge of the Ontario Court of Justice, comments on the newly proposed restrictions on former judges acting as counsel: "Justice must not only be done but be must seen to be done," said Prof Zuker. "I think there are a lot issues, not only of bias, unfair advantage but also: What kind of information does the retired judge have that may or may not give his or her client an advantage?" Read more.

OISE Professor Angela Pyle and her student Katie Kovacs know that building a better tomorrow starts with building a solid foundation of learning and development for children. With your support, we can shape the future of early childhood education. Learn more and give your support.

Need some tips on combating the daily homework battle with your kids? OISE's Dr. Todd Cunningham discusses strategies for both parents and teens to create positive associations with homework. Read more.

A new inquiry found the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) has been using grade six EQAO results as criteria for admission into some highly competitive high school programs. OISE Prof. Charles Pascal responds: "It's irresponsible and it's lazy. If it's a bad use of EQAO data - it shouldn't be in the pot". Read more.

Outdoor apparel giant MEC has publicly apologized for only using white models to sell wares. PhD student Jacqueline Scott responds, saying wilderness outfitter advertisements have created a "visual apartheid" and that the absence of Indigenous, Black and other racialized people in these ads has 'whitewashed' the history of our outdoor spaces. Read more.

A university in the UK recently voted to swap clapping for 'jazz hands' to help students with anxiety and sensory issues. "There are a lot of different conditions people could have, like autism, anxiety, for which the use of 'jazz hands' would be beneficial," said OISE Professor Tanya Titchkosky, adding that our university campuses must do more to recognize student disabilities. Read more.

The dedicated volunteer and mom-of-two discusses her work within the JICS community and why the new Endowment Fund is so important for the school. Read more.

This August, OISE welcomed Dr. Jennifer Wemigwans as the new Assistant Professor in the Department of Leadership, Higher and Adult Education. Dr. Wemigwans' research focuses on the convergence between education, Indigenous knowledge, and new media technologies. She brings over 20 years of expertise in media exhibition, practice and consultation, Ojibwe language, Indigenous history, First Nations spirituality, and multigenerational Indigenous cultural literacy. Read more.

Now that it is legal in Canada, how should parents talk to their teens about cannabis? OISE Professor Abby Goldstein, a clinical psychologist and Canada Research Chair, discusses with Global News: "Kids already have some ideas and impressions about what's happening with cannabis and so starting by asking them what they know and then helping to fill in some of the blanks," says Prof. Goldstein. Watch now.

Congratulations to OISE Professor Lana Stermac, who has received the 2018 Distinguished Member Award of the Section on Women and Psychology (SWAP) of the Canadian Psychological Association. This award is presented annually on the merits of distinguished, long-standing, and substantial work on gender, women or related issues in teaching, research or practice. Read more.

This year, nine members of the OISE community received Arbor Awards for their loyalty, generosity, and dedication to OISE and the Jackman Institute of Child Study (JICS). The annual awards recognize individuals who have made an exceptional impact at the University of Toronto through volunteerism. Read more.

Can and should one person be designated as the main voice of 'science' in government today? OISE Professor Creso Sa discusses the role of government science advisers in his latest 'Policy & Practice' column at University Affairs. "If we want more reliable, research-based knowledge to be considered in policy-making, we need more than a cheerful 'team science' crowd to elevate the status of science in government." Read more.

Meet Dr. Jennifer Brant, who joined OISE as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Curriculum, Teaching and Learning in August. She recently spoke to OISE News about what ignited her passion for Indigenous literature and women's issues, and what she's looking forward to at OISE. Read more.

Professor Njoki Wane and student Chizoba Imoka were two of the recipients of this year's African Scholars Awards - a recognition given to faculty, students, alumni and community leaders by the African Alumni Association at U of T. Read more.

OISE has been named the best school for education in Canada by University Magazine. Supported by a strong community of faculty, staff, students and alumni, OISE is widely recognized as a centre for excellence in education. Read more.

From October 2-4, the Robertson Program will co-host a conference in Fort Frances, a town in northwestern Ontario located on Treaty #3 territory. The event will bring together Indigenous and non-Indigenous educators, policy makers, and academics to improve teaching within a framework of reconciliation and reciprocal learning. Read more.

Congratulations to OISE Professor Emeritus Niva Piran who has received the 2018 Distinguished Publication Award for her book, "Journeys of embodiment at the intersection of body and culture: The Developmental theory of embodiment" from the Association for Women in Psychology (AWP). The Awards recognize published works that contribute significantly to research and theory that advance our understanding of the psychology of women and/or gender. Read more.

The University of Toronto has now made it easier for students to find funding for global learning opportunities. Just this summer, OISE Master of Teaching student Rija Saleem went abroad after being awarded a Queen Elizabeth Scholarship to conduct research at a school in Rwanda. "When you go abroad, you get time to learn about yourself and develop a sense of independence. At the same time you're highly social because you don't know people, and you learn cross-cultural communication skills," Saleem says. Read more.

OISE Professor Dr. Tricia Seifert's research finds that organizational culture is pivotal in supporting student success. To help understand the factors that lead to effective student affairs programs, Dr. Seifert and team including academics from OISE and Memorial University started the Supporting Student Success project. The team developed a '360 degree' understanding of how students, staff, faculty and senior administrators perceive their institutions' culture around student success, and presented the findings at two major conferences this year. Read more.

A new scholarship has been established at OISE by Dr. Bonnie Burstow. Burstow's Scholarship for Research into Violence Against Indigenous Women: In Memory of Helen Betty Osborne will be directed to a graduate student whose thesis focuses on violence against Indigenous women. Read more.

OISE alumna Dr. Rumeet Billan has released new survey research that shows the prevalence of women who experience or witness acts of being cut down or discredited based on gender in the workplace (also known as Tall Poppy Syndrome). The research, based on 1500+ responses from Canadian women across industries, sectors and roles, suggests both men and women participate in undermining or undervaluing women at work. Watch Dr. Billan speak about her findings and what can be done to create better workplace environments.

Dr. Bonnie Burstow's novel, The Other Mrs. Smith, has been shortlisted in the fictional category for the Vine Award in Canadian Jewish Literature. Read more for the announcement, along with an excerpt from the novel.

OISE Professor Kang Lee and his student Sarah Zanette of Dr. Kang Lee's Development Lab break down the science of lying and show off their innovative 'lie-detection technology' in a new AsapSCIENCE episode, "Can you spot a liar?" Watch here.

"For a lot of gay men, just by being gay, there is this sense of insecurity of being a failure because they're not performing their masculinity in the way that they (feel like they) are expected to," says Adam Davies, doctoral candidate in education, gender and sexuality studies at OISE. Davies discusses the issue of toxic masculinity in the gay community. Read more in HuffPost.

Starting this fall, OISE student teachers will be required to take a 24-hour course on basic arithmetic on top of 54 hours focusing on math pedagogy and research. This comes after OISE researchers found that about one-third of new student teachers scored at or below 70 per cent, the provincial standard, on a Grade 6 and 7 level math test. Read more in The Globe and Mail.