The Faculty of Education at UBC is advancing educational research and understanding in ways that celebrate diversity, equity, and innovation, and welcomes international collaboration in an increasingly borderless world.

For over half a century the Faculty of Education at UBC has served the international education community through leadership in research, service, and advocacy. Our faculty, students, and alumni advance research on learning and teaching; collaborate with Indigenous communities; and solve human problems across the lifespan and in diverse contexts. Our internationally renowned scholars and talented graduate students link educational research to local and global community needs, inform theory, practice and policy, and introduce innovative research methods.

We also prepare professionals for practice in a wide range of education-related fields, from preschool through adulthood. In British Columbia, more than 45% of the province’s elementary teachers, the majority of secondary teachers, and a significant proportion of BC’s special needs and First Nations teachers, counsellors, school administrators, school psychologists, and vocational rehabilitation counsellors, are prepared by the UBC Faculty of Education for their important roles.

Mission
To advance education's role in the well-being of people and communities.
 

Research Centres

Research Facilities

We provide outstanding research facilities for faculty and graduate students that promote leading-edge research. Our Education Library is a specialized resource with access to all of UBC’s research and special collections, including the X̱wi7x̱wa Library with materials produced by Indigenous organizations, tribal councils, schools, researchers and publishers.

The Faculty’s Education Research and Learning Commons at Ponderosa Commons features technology-enhanced teaching and learning spaces and also informal learning spaces. A number of faculty manage their own research labs, situated throughout campus. 

Research Highlights

Notable strengths are in literacy, struggling and marginalized youth, Indigenous education and research, transformational curriculum design, social-emotional well-being, autism, kinesiology and exercise physiology, and multidisciplinary research in diversity, health, and digital media.

We are the national leader in the number of education graduate student fellowships received from the Social Sciences and Humanities research council (SSHRC), and are home to 4 Canada Research Chairs and 10 donor-funded research chairs and professorships. 

Schools / Departments

School

Department

Graduate Degree Programs

Research Supervisors in Faculty

or browse the list of faculty members in various academic units. You may click each unit to view faculty members appointed in that unit. View the full faculty member directory for more search and filter options.
Name Academic Unit(s) Research Interests
Abdi, Ali Department of Educational Studies Citizenship and human rights education, International Development Education, Multi-centric Philosophies and Methodologies of Education, postcolonial studies in education, Social and Cultural Foundations of Education
Ahenakew, Cash Department of Educational Studies Cultural studies, Higher Education, Indigenous Studies, Leadership and Organizations, Post-colonial studies, Race/ethnicity, Research methodologies, Social justice, Sociology of Education
Anderson, Ann Department of Curriculum & Pedagogy Math education
Anderson, David Department of Curriculum & Pedagogy Curriculum, pedagogy and didactics; Science, technology and engineering curriculum, pedagogy and didactics; Specialized studies in education; Cultural Institutions (Museums, Libraries, etc.); Informal Learning; Long-term Memory; Metacognition; Museum Education; Nostalgia; Science Education; Visitor Studies
Andres, Lesley Department of Educational Studies Higher education; life course research; international comparative higher education; sociology of higher education
Asselin, Marlene Department of Language & Literacy Education Children's literatures; Other languages and literature; Cultural Institutions (Museums, Libraries, etc.); early literacy; International development; Language Acquisition and Development; libraries and education; literacy and international development
Beauchamp, Mark School of Kinesiology Kinesiology; social determinants of health; Health Promotion; Quality of Life and Aging; Mental Health and Society; Children; Exercise Psychology; Group Processes; Health Psychology; Intervention; Leadership; Older Adults; Physical Activity; Social Cognition; Sport Psychology
Bedi, Robinder Department of Educational & Counselling Psychology, and Special Education Counselling psychology; Educational Counselling; Counselling psychology disciplinary and professional issues; Counselling/psychotherapy in India; Counselling/psychotherapy/mental health with Punjabi/Sikh individuals; The Contextual Model of Counselling/Psychotherapy / Viewing Psychotherapy as a Cultural Practice
Belliveau, George Department of Language & Literacy Education Theatre; Arts-based research; Drama Education; Research-based Theatre; Interdisciplinary Arts
Berard, Marie-France
Blouin, Jean-Sebastien School of Kinesiology Kinesiology; sensorimotor integration; Motor System; robotics and automation; Trauma / Injuries; Physiology; Balance robot; Computational approaches; Head and neck; Sensorimotor physiology; Sensory virtualisation; Standing balance; Whiplash injuries
Borgen, William Department of Educational & Counselling Psychology, and Special Education Career Counselling, Career/life transitions, Developmental approaches to counselling, Group counselling
Bournot-Trites, Monique Department of Language & Literacy Education Specialized studies in education; Bilingualism and Multilingualism; Teaching and Learning Systems; bilingualism; French immersion; Intercultural communication; Language Assessment; reading
Boushel, Robert School of Kinesiology, Department of Family Practice Kinesiology
Bredin, Shannon School of Kinesiology human motor learning, expertise and development, physical education, teacher preparation and effectiveness, Human motor behaviour (motor learning, development, and expertise), life span physical activity and health, physical and health literacy, health knowledge, health-related physical fitness, interactive gaming, telehealth, psychomotor markers of performance
Bryson, Mary Department of Language & Literacy Education technology, media, cultural studies, gender, queer theory, deviance studies, post-colonial pedagogies, Sociology, Women's Studies, Education, media and gender, media and education
Buchanan, Marla Department of Educational & Counselling Psychology, and Special Education Counsellor Stress, Narrative Inquiry, School Counselling, Traumatic Stress
Bundon, Andrea School of Kinesiology Kinesiology; Social Contexts; critical disability studies; disability; Paralympics; social media; sociology; sport
Butler, Deborah Department of Educational & Counselling Psychology, and Special Education special education, learning disabilities, inclusive educational practices, intervention research for students with learning disabilities, Collaboration and co-regulation in teachers' professional learning, collaborative professional development models, learning disabilities in adolescence and adulhood, mathematics, metagocnition and self-regulated learning, research methods in educaiton, strategic performanc ein reading, writing
Cannon, Joanna Department of Educational & Counselling Psychology, and Special Education Special Education and Social Adaptation; Teacher Education; Educational Approaches; Speech and Language Development Disorders; Language Acquisition and Development; Cognition and Language; Literacy Training; Education of Students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing; Students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing with complex language or cognitive needs
Carpenter, Mark School of Kinesiology neural control of movement, fear of falling, Neural control of movement, postural control, fears of falling, balance disorders, Parkinson's disease
Chan, Jennifer Department of Educational Studies transnational social movements, international and comparative education, Japanese civil society, Islam in multicultural societies, Adult education, Citizenship and democracy, Gender studies, International and Comparative Education, Multiculturalism, Post-colonial studies
Chua, Romeo School of Kinesiology Human perceptual-motor control, vision and action, perceptual-motor compatibility, coordination
Clark, Penney Department of Curriculum & Pedagogy history education, Curriculum Studies Research, History Education and Historical Consciousness, History of Education, Pedagogy, Social Studies Education Research
Clarke, Anthony Department of Curriculum & Pedagogy Educational practice, Pedagogy, Research Design and Method, Teacher Education Research, Teacher Research

Pages

Graduate Student Stories

Esteban Morales

Doctor of Philosophy in Language and Literacy Education (PhD)

Reimagining violence on social media: promoting critical media literacy and peace education in Colombia

Monica Shank Lauwo

Doctor of Philosophy in Language and Literacy Education (PhD)

Stories of lives and literacies: Social class, translanguaging and imagined futures of Tanzanian children

Megan Zeni

Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum Studies (PhD)

No child left inside: loose parts, risky play, and teachers' perceptions of risk associated with playful learning outside the classroom

Shirley Anne Swelchalot Shxwha:yathel Hardman

Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Studies (PhD)

One Heart at a Time: Indigenizing the Academy

Sophie Ma Zhu

Doctor of Philosophy in Measurement, Evaluation and Research Methodology (PhD)

Validity evidence for self-report psychological measures based on participants' response processes

Christine Yu

Doctor of Philosophy in Counselling Psychology (PhD)

The Help-Seeking Process for Parents of Children with Anxiety: A Grounded Theory

Katharine McCloskey

Doctor of Philosophy in Counselling Psychology (PhD)

Interpersonal communication styles in suicidal men

Ran Xiang

Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum Studies (PhD)

A cultural analysis of the tea ceremony as a form of aesthetic pedagogy
All Student Stories

Alumni on Success

Brigid Goitse Conteh

Doctor of Philosophy in Language and Literacy Education (PhD) [2020]

Job Title
Lecturer

Employer
University of Botswana

Olen Gunnlaugson

Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Studies (PhD) [2009]

Job Title
Associate Professor in Leadership and Organizational Development

Employer
Université Laval

Andrea Bundon

Doctor of Philosophy in Kinesiology (PhD) [2014]

Job Title
Assistant Professor

Employer
The University of British Columbia - School of Kinesiology

Suzanne Windsor-Liscombe

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy (EdD) [2014]

Job Title
Teacher-Administrator

Employer
Retired Educator from the Burnaby School District

Ashwani Kumar

Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum Studies (PhD) [2011]

Job Title
Associate Professor

Employer
Mount Saint Vincent University

Ryan van den Berg

Master of Arts in Educational Studies (MA) [2016]

Job Title
Analyst

Employer
Library of Parliament

Randy Wollf

Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Studies (PhD) [2008]

Job Title
President

Employer
PaperLift Document Editing

Kenneth Tupper

Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Studies (PhD) [2011]

Job Title
Director of Implementation & Partnerships

Employer
BC Centre on Substance Use
All Alumni Stories

Recent Publications

This is an incomplete sample of recent publications in chronological order by UBC faculty members with a primary appointment in the Faculty of Education.

 

Influence of step-surface visual properties on confidence, anxiety, dynamic stability, and gaze behaviour in young and older adults
Publication: Human Movement Science
UBC Author(s): Mark Carpenter (School of Kinesiology / Faculty of Education)
ISSN: 01679457
Volume: 77
Publication Date: June 2021

View Publication
Effects of social anxiety on static and dynamic balance task assessment in older women
Publication: Gait and Posture
UBC Author(s): Mark Carpenter (School of Kinesiology / Faculty of Education)
ISSN: 09666362
Volume: 86
Page Range: 174-179
Publication Date: May 2021

View Publication
The energy to smoke: Examining the longitudinal association between beverage consumption and smoking and vaping behaviours among youth in the compass study
Publication: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
UBC Author(s): Guy Faulkner (School of Kinesiology / Faculty of Education)
ISSN: 16617827
Volume: 18
Publication Date: 2 April 2021

View Publication
Development and Validation of a Measure Assessing Sustainability of Tier 2 and 3 Behavior Support Systems
Publication: Journal of School Psychology
UBC Author(s): Sterett Mercer (Educational & Counselling Psychology & Special Education / Faculty of Education)
ISSN: 00224405
Volume: 85
Page Range: 140-154
Publication Date: April 2021

View Publication
Evaluating the impact of the healthy kids community challenge (Hkcc) on physical activity of older youth
Publication: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
UBC Author(s): Guy Faulkner (School of Kinesiology / Faculty of Education)
ISSN: 16617827
Volume: 18
Page Range: 1-12
Publication Date: 2 March 2021

View Publication
‘The bike breaks down. What are they going to do?’ Actor-networks and the Bicycles for Development movement
Publication: International Review for the Sociology of Sport
UBC Author(s): Brian Wilson (School of Kinesiology / Faculty of Education)
ISSN: 10126902
Volume: 56
Page Range: 194-211
Publication Date: March 2021

View Publication
Spinoza: thoughts on hope in our political present
Publication: Contemporary Political Theory
UBC Author(s): Susan James (Educational & Counselling Psychology & Special Education / Faculty of Education)
ISSN: 14708914
Volume: 20
Page Range: 200-231
Publication Date: March 2021

View Publication
Bicultural Identity and Self-Construal in-Family Among Indian American Emerging Adults: A Mixed-Methods Study
Publication: Journal of Adult Development
UBC Author(s): Robinder Bedi (Educational & Counselling Psychology & Special Education / Faculty of Education)
ISSN: 10680667
Volume: 28
Publication Date: March 2021

View Publication
The long-term washback effects of the National Matriculation English Test on college English learning in China: Tertiary student perspectives
Publication: Studies in Educational Evaluation
UBC Author(s): Monique Bournot-Trites (Language & Literacy Education / Faculty of Education)
ISSN: 0191491X
Volume: 68
Publication Date: March 2021

View Publication
Psychological mediators of exercise adherence among older adults in a group-based randomized trial
Publication: Health psychology : official journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association
UBC Author(s): William Sheel (School of Kinesiology / Faculty of Education)
Volume: 40
Page Range: 166-177
Publication Date: 1 March 2021

View Publication
Face Masks and the Cardiorespiratory Response to Physical Activity in Health and Disease
Publication: Annals of the American Thoracic Society
UBC Author(s): William Sheel (School of Kinesiology / Faculty of Education)
ISSN: 23296933
Volume: 18
Page Range: 399-407
Publication Date: March 2021

View Publication
Peer-Mediated Pivotal Response Treatment at School for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder
Publication: Canadian Journal of School Psychology
UBC Author(s): Joseph Lucyshyn (Educational & Counselling Psychology & Special Education / Faculty of Education)
ISSN: 08295735
Volume: 36
Page Range: 34-50
Publication Date: March 2021

View Publication
On campus physical activity programming for post-secondary student mental health: Examining effectiveness and acceptability
Publication: Mental Health and Physical Activity
UBC Author(s): Guy Faulkner (School of Kinesiology / Faculty of Education)
ISSN: 17552966
Volume: 20
Publication Date: March 2021

View Publication
Neck Muscle and Head/Neck Kinematic Responses While Bracing Against the Steering Wheel During Front and Rear Impacts
Publication: Annals of Biomedical Engineering
UBC Author(s): Jean-Sebastien Blouin (School of Kinesiology / Faculty of Education)
ISSN: 00906964
Volume: 49
Page Range: 1069-1082
Publication Date: March 2021

View Publication
The Effects of Aerobic Exercise on Psychological Functioning in Family Caregivers: Secondary Analyses of a Randomized Controlled Trial
Publication: Annals of behavioral medicine : a publication of the Society of Behavioral Medicine
UBC Author(s): Eli Puterman (School of Kinesiology / Faculty of Education)
Volume: 55
Page Range: 65-76
Publication Date: 12 February 2021

View Publication
Combining Observation and Physical Practice: Benefits of an Interleaved Schedule for Visuomotor Adaptation and Motor Memory Consolidation
Publication: Frontiers in Human Neuroscience
UBC Author(s): Nicola Hodges (School of Kinesiology / Faculty of Education)
Volume: 15
Publication Date: 4 February 2021

View Publication
Ozone pollution: A 'hidden' environmental layer for athletes preparing for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics & Paralympics
Publication: British Journal of Sports Medicine
UBC Author(s): Michael Koehle (School of Kinesiology / Faculty of Education)
ISSN: 03063674
Volume: 55
Page Range: 189-190
Publication Date: 1 February 2021

View Publication
Sex differences in diaphragmatic fatigue: Effects of hypoxia during inspiratory loading
Publication: Journal of Physiology
UBC Author(s): William Sheel (School of Kinesiology / Faculty of Education)
ISSN: 00223751
Volume: 599
Page Range: 1319-1333
Publication Date: 15 February 2021

View Publication
Ribosome biogenesis and degradation regulate translational capacity during muscle disuse and reloading
Publication: Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle
UBC Author(s): Cameron Mitchell (School of Kinesiology / Faculty of Education)
ISSN: 21905991
Volume: 12
Page Range: 130-143
Publication Date: February 2021

View Publication
“Love is calling”: Academic friendship and international research collaboration amid a global pandemic
Publication: Emotion, Space and Society
UBC Author(s): Amy Metcalfe (Educational Studies / Faculty of Education)
ISSN: 17554586
Volume: 38
Publication Date: February 2021

View Publication
Associations between School Readiness and Student Wellbeing: A Six-Year Follow Up Study
Publication: Child Indicators Research
UBC Author(s): Kimberly Schonert-Reichl (Educational & Counselling Psychology & Special Education / Faculty of Education)
ISSN: 1874897X
Volume: 14
Page Range: 369-390
Publication Date: February 2021

View Publication
Bayesian Mixed Effects Model and Data Visualization for Understanding Item Response Time and Response Order in Open Online Assessment
Publication: Frontiers in Education
UBC Author(s): Amery Wu (Educational & Counselling Psychology & Special Education / Faculty of Education)
Volume: 5
Publication Date: 7 January 2021

View Publication
Social media in heart failure: A mixed-methods systematic review
Publication: Current Cardiology Reviews
UBC Author(s): Jillianne Code (Curriculum & Pedagogy / Faculty of Education)
ISSN: 1573403X
Volume: 17
Page Range: 161-170
Publication Date: 2021

View Publication
Emerging adults’ experiences of brief group interventions: two approaches to possible selves
Publication: Counselling Psychology Quarterly
UBC Author(s): Daniel Cox (Educational & Counselling Psychology & Special Education / Faculty of Education)
ISSN: 09515070
Publication Date: 2021

View Publication
The association between heart rate variability, reaction time, and indicators of workplace fatigue in wildland firefighters
Publication: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health
UBC Author(s): Darren Warburton (School of Kinesiology / Faculty of Education)
ISSN: 03400131
Publication Date: 2021

View Publication

Pages

Recent Thesis Submissions

Doctoral Citations

A doctoral citation summarizes the nature of the independent research, provides a high-level overview of the study, states the significance of the work and says who will benefit from the findings in clear, non-specialized language, so that members of a lay audience will understand it.
Year Citation Program
2020 Dr. Namae explored why some secondary school teachers in Uganda choose to adopt technology and others do not. Her findings revealed that skills training and sheer attitude influenced technology use in schools. Her study also reveals that the presence of technology in school does not guarantee teacher change of attitude and use. Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum Studies (PhD)
2020 Dr. Glowacki co-developed the Exercise and Depression Toolkit collaboratively with individuals with depression, health care providers, researchers, exercise professionals and community partners. The toolkit aims to integrate treatment guidelines into practice, consider how exercise could be used as a treatment, and has had an international reach. Doctor of Philosophy in Kinesiology (PhD)
2020 Dr. Coronel examined how changing response formats and scoring methods affect differences between groups based on electronic device, sexual orientation, and gender; including trans and non-binary folk. His research shows how seemingly small choices in survey research shape statistical results and shouldn't be considered obstacles to survey use. Doctor of Philosophy in Measurement, Evaluation and Research Methodology (PhD)
2020 Through theoretical and qualitative inquiries, Dr. Clegg invited Canadian counselling psychology educators to listen deeply to Indigenous Knowledges, changing assumptions underlying curriculum and disciplinary identity, and unfolding questions of what it means for educators, students, and clients to relate to place and land. Doctor of Philosophy in Counselling Psychology (PhD)
2020 Dr. Davis explored six ways to study the traumatic past, a unique area in curriculum studies. Indigenous practices of orality, listening to stories of Survivors, choosing to become a witness, and taking steps towards reconciliation were identified as the educational legacy of the TRC - Indian Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum Studies (PhD)
2020 Dr. McCartney studied the history of international undergraduate student policy in Canada since WWII. He found that policymakers often used these students to advance a racist "Canada first" agenda both economically and politically, while international students' presence has significantly reshaped post-secondary institutions and Canadian law. Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Studies (PhD)
2020 Dr. Miled conducted an ethnographic study to explore how Muslim high school students position themselves as Muslims and/or Canadians and how they construct their belonging and unbelonging to Canada. This study highlights the complexities of their experiences and illuminates the role of schools in the identity formation of racialized students. Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Studies (PhD)
2020 Dr. Chang explored the literacy instruction of an elementary student with learning disabilities. Her research highlights the affordances and constraints of a variety of semiotic materials and the intersection of literacy, disability, and pedagogy. The findings suggest a continued effort is needed to change perceptions of lower literacy achievement. Doctor of Philosophy in Language and Literacy Education (PhD)
2020 Dr. Mennigke wrote a philosophical inquiry on leadership in the age of liquid modernity. His dissertation critically analyses key themes in broad theoretical literature through a dramatic personification of each theme as a character. Using these themes as forms of conceptual analysis contributes a critical understanding of the nature of leadership. Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Policy (EdD)
2020 Dr. Law studied the role of ethnic culture in the experience and coping of chronic pain. Her research focused on immigrants from China living with pain in BC. Results revealed a set of cultural beliefs and values that informs their pain management actions. Her work can help enhance patient care for chronic pain in an increasingly global society. Doctor of Philosophy in Counselling Psychology (PhD)

Pages

 

Acadia Alumni Association honours Dean Frank with 2021 Distinguished Alumni Award

  April 6, 2021 Congratulations to Dr. Blye Frank, Dean and Professor, on his 2021 Distinguished Alumni Award from the Acadia Alumni Association “I can think of no one who has contributed more to educational and social research, civic duty, an agent of change for equity and social justice,...

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UBC Faculty Research Awards

  Congratulations to the recipients of UBC’s Faculty Research Awards, including faculty members Dr. Candace Galla and Dr. Ryuko Kubota. UBC KILLAM RESEARCH FELLOW Enabling faculty to pursue full-time research during a recognized study leave Junior Category – award categories are based...

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Reappointment of Dr. Leyton Schnellert as Eleanor Rix Professor for Rural Teacher Education

March 5, 2021 | Congratulations to Dr. Leyton Schnellert, Associate Professor in the Department of Curriculum and Pedagogy, on his reappointment as Eleanor Rix Professor for Rural Teacher Education for a second three-year term beginning September 1, 2021. The mandate of the Eleanor Rix...

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<p>The UBC Faculty of Education in the

Faculty of Education is ranked 10th in the world March 4, 2021 | The UBC Faculty of Education in the University of British Columbia is ranked 10th in the world by QS World University Rankings for 2021. This stellar ranking reflects the dedication and support of the Faculty’s leading...

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<p>Congratulations to Dr. Jan Hare,

Congratulations to Dr. Jan Hare, Dean pro tem of the UBC Faculty of Education, effective July 1, 2021 Andrew Szeri, Provost and Vice-President, Academic, UBC Vancouver and Ananya Mukherjee Reed, Provost and Vice-President, Academic, UBC Okanagan are pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Jan...

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University Killam Professor in the Faculty of Education

January 14, 2021 Congratulations to Dr. Bonny Norton, FRSC on her University Killam Professorship The highest honour UBC can confer on a faculty member, a University Killam Professorship recognizes exceptional teachers and researchers who are leaders in their fields, and who have received...

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