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, David Department of Curriculum & Pedagogy Cultural Institutions (Museums, Libraries, etc.); Museum Education; Visitor Studies; Informal Learning; Metacognition; Science Education; Long-term Memory; Nostalgia
Anderson, Ann Department of Curriculum & Pedagogy Math education
Andres, Lesley Department of Educational Studies Equity, Higher education, International and Comparative Education, International comparative higher education, Life Course research, Lifelong learning, Policy, Research methodologies, Social justice, Sociology of Education, Sociology of Higher Education
Asselin, Marlene Department of Language & Literacy Education Language Acquisition and Development; International Development; Cultural Institutions (Museums, Libraries, etc.); early literacy; literacy and international development; libraries and education
Beauchamp, Mark School of Kinesiology Social Determinants of Health; Health Promotion; Quality of Life and Aging; Mental Health and Society; Physical Activity; Health Psychology; Exercise Psychology; Sport Psychology; Group Processes; Leadership; Intervention; Social Cognition; Older Adults; Children
Bedi, Robinder Department of Educational & Counselling Psychology, and Special Education Educational Counselling; The Contextual Model of Counselling/Psychotherapy / Viewing Psychotherapy as a Cultural Practice; Counselling/psychotherapy in India; Counselling/psychotherapy/mental health with Punjabi/Sikh individuals; Counselling psychology disciplinary and professional issues
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 Sensorimotor Integration; Motor System; Robotics and Automation; Trauma / Injuries; Physiology; Sensorimotor physiology; Standing balance; Balance robot; Sensory virtualisation; Computational approaches; Head and neck; 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 Bilingualism and Multilingualism; Teaching and Learning Systems; bilingualism; French immersion; Language Assessment; Intercultural communication; 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 Social Contexts; disability; sport; Paralympics; sociology; critical disability studies; social media
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

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Open Research Positions

This list of possible research projects is non-exhaustive. It only shows positions that are specifically advertised in the G+PS website.

Graduate Student Stories

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

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

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

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

Shirley Anne Swelchalot Shxwha:yathel Hardman

Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Studies (PhD)

One Heart at a Time: Indigenizing the Academy

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

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

Lucía Terra

Doctor of Philosophy in Language and Literacy Education (PhD) [2009]

Job Title
Owner

Employer
Language and Communication Services
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.

 

Physical performance development in a female national team soccer program
Publication: Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport
UBC Author(s): Michael Koehle (School of Kinesiology / Faculty of Education)
ISSN: 14402440
Publication Date: 2021

View Publication
Contemporary digital qualitative research in sport, exercise and health: introduction
Publication: Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health
UBC Author(s): Andrea Bundon (School of Kinesiology / Faculty of Education)
ISSN: 2159676X
Volume: 13
Page Range: 1-10
Publication Date: 2021

View Publication
More than meets the eye: a relational analysis of young women’s body capital and embodied understandings of health and fitness on Instagram
Publication: Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health
UBC Author(s): Moss Norman (School of Kinesiology / Faculty of Education)
ISSN: 2159676X
Volume: 13
Page Range: 59-76
Publication Date: 2021

View Publication
Ethnolinguistic Vitality, Identity and Power: Investment in SLA
Publication: Journal of Language and Social Psychology
UBC Author(s): Bonny Norton (Language & Literacy Education / Faculty of Education)
ISSN: 0261927X
Volume: 40
Page Range: 154-171
Publication Date: January 2021

View Publication
Ventilatory responses to constant load exercise following the inhalation of a short-acting ß<inf>2</inf>-agonist in a laboratory-controlled diesel exhaust exposure study in individuals with exercise-induced bronchoconstriction
Publication: Environment International
UBC Author(s): Michael Koehle (School of Kinesiology / Faculty of Education)
ISSN: 01604120
Volume: 146
Publication Date: January 2021

View Publication
Interpersonal problems and social dysfunction: Examining patients with avoidant and borderline personality disorder symptoms
Publication: Journal of Clinical Psychology
UBC Author(s): Daniel Cox (Educational & Counselling Psychology & Special Education / Faculty of Education)
ISSN: 00219762
Volume: 77
Page Range: 329-339
Publication Date: January 2021

View Publication
Perfectionism and the disclosure of distress
Publication: Personality and Individual Differences
UBC Author(s): Daniel Cox (Educational & Counselling Psychology & Special Education / Faculty of Education)
ISSN: 01918869
Volume: 168
Publication Date: 1 January 2021

View Publication
Corrigendum to “Mirror, mirror on the wall, which form of narcissist knows self and others best of all?” [Pers. Individ. Dif. 54 (2013) 396–401] (Personality and Individual Differences (2013) 54(3) (396–401), (S0191886912004928), (10.1016/j.paid.2012...
Publication: Personality and Individual Differences
UBC Author(s): Sterett Mercer (Educational & Counselling Psychology & Special Education / Faculty of Education)
ISSN: 01918869
Volume: 168
Publication Date: 1 January 2021

View Publication
Altered metabolism of mothers of young children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: a case control study
Publication: BMC pediatrics
UBC Author(s): Susan James (Educational & Counselling Psychology & Special Education / Faculty of Education)
Volume: 20
Page Range: 557
Publication Date: 14 December 2020

View Publication
Living in Exile: The Experiences of Individuals in Same-Sex Binational Relationships in Latin America
Publication: Journal of Homosexuality
UBC Author(s): Anusha Kassan (Educational & Counselling Psychology & Special Education / Faculty of Education)
ISSN: 00918369
Volume: 67
Page Range: 2014-2033
Publication Date: 5 December 2020

View Publication
Difficulty is a Real Challenge: A Perspective on the Role of Cognitive Effort in Motor Skill Learning
Publication: Journal of Applied Research in Memory and Cognition
UBC Author(s): Nicola Hodges (School of Kinesiology / Faculty of Education)
ISSN: 22113681
Volume: 9
Page Range: 455-460
Publication Date: December 2020

View Publication
Health psychology in the time of COVID-19
Publication: Health psychology : official journal of the Division of Health Psychology, American Psychological Association
UBC Author(s): Eli Puterman (School of Kinesiology / Faculty of Education)
Volume: 39
Page Range: 1021-1025
Publication Date: 1 December 2020

View Publication
Maximising the impact of global and national physical activity guidelines: the critical role of communication strategies
Publication: British journal of sports medicine
UBC Author(s): Guy Faulkner (School of Kinesiology / Faculty of Education)
Volume: 54
Page Range: 1463-1467
Publication Date: 1 December 2020

View Publication
The hyperpnoea of exercise in health: Respiratory influences on neurovascular control
Publication: Experimental Physiology
UBC Author(s): William Sheel (School of Kinesiology / Faculty of Education)
ISSN: 09580670
Volume: 105
Page Range: 1984-1989
Publication Date: 1 December 2020

View Publication
Near-infrared spectroscopy measures of sternocleidomastoid blood flow during exercise and hyperpnoea
Publication: Experimental Physiology
UBC Author(s): William Sheel (School of Kinesiology / Faculty of Education), Michael Koehle (School of Kinesiology / Faculty of Education)
ISSN: 09580670
Volume: 105
Page Range: 2226-2237
Publication Date: 1 December 2020

View Publication
Calibration of the food parenting practice (FPP) item bank: tools for improving the measurement of food parenting practices of parents of 5–12-year-old children
Publication: International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity
UBC Author(s): Mark Beauchamp (School of Kinesiology / Faculty of Education)
Volume: 17
Publication Date: December 2020

View Publication
Walking soccer: A systematic review of a modified sport
Publication: Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports
UBC Author(s): Harry Hubball (Curriculum & Pedagogy / Faculty of Education)
ISSN: 09057188
Volume: 30
Page Range: 2282-2290
Publication Date: December 2020

View Publication
Associations between Physical Self-Concept and Anticipated Guilt and Shame: The Moderating Role of Gender
Publication: Sex Roles
UBC Author(s): Peter Crocker (School of Kinesiology / Faculty of Education)
ISSN: 03600025
Volume: 83
Page Range: 763-772
Publication Date: December 2020

View Publication
Modes of Being: Mobilizing Narrative Inquiry
Publication: Qualitative Inquiry
UBC Author(s): Leyton Schnellert (Curriculum & Pedagogy / Faculty of Education)
ISSN: 10778004
Volume: 26
Page Range: 1222-1232
Publication Date: December 2020

View Publication
The physical activity parenting practices (PAPP) item Bank: a psychometrically validated tool for improving the measurement of physical activity parenting practices of parents of 5–12-year-old children
Publication: International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity
UBC Author(s): Mark Beauchamp (School of Kinesiology / Faculty of Education)
Volume: 17
Publication Date: 1 December 2020

View Publication
Teaching Science Content and Practices to Students With Intellectual Disability and Autism
Publication: Remedial and Special Education
UBC Author(s): Vicki Floyd Knight (Educational & Counselling Psychology & Special Education / Faculty of Education)
ISSN: 07419325
Volume: 41
Page Range: 327-340
Publication Date: 1 December 2020

View Publication
Screen time and extracurricular activities as risk and protective factors for mental health in adolescence: A population-level study
Publication: Preventive Medicine
UBC Author(s): Kimberly Schonert-Reichl (Educational & Counselling Psychology & Special Education / Faculty of Education)
ISSN: 00917435
Volume: 141
Publication Date: December 2020

View Publication
The use of the behaviour change wheel in the development of ParticipACTION's physical activity app
Publication: Preventive Medicine Reports
UBC Author(s): Guy Faulkner (School of Kinesiology / Faculty of Education)
Volume: 20
Publication Date: December 2020

View Publication
Psychometric Properties of the Merrill–Palmer–Revised Scales of Development in Preschool Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder
Publication: Assessment
UBC Author(s): Pat Mirenda (Educational & Counselling Psychology & Special Education / Faculty of Education)
ISSN: 10731911
Volume: 27
Page Range: 1796-1809
Publication Date: 1 December 2020

View Publication
The influence of postural threat on strategy selection in a stepping-down paradigm
Publication: Scientific Reports
UBC Author(s): Mark Carpenter (School of Kinesiology / Faculty of Education)
Volume: 10
Publication Date: 1 December 2020

View Publication

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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)

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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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Canada Research Chairs in the Faculty of Education

December 16, 2020 Congratulations to the new Canada Research Chairs in the Faculty of Education Canada Research Chairs’ excellence in the pursuit of knowledge elevates Canada’s position as a worldwide leader in research. The Faculty of Education is home to six Canada Research Chairs,...

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Dr. Handel Kashope Wright Appointed as Senior Advisor on Anti-Racism and Inclusive Excellence

We congratulate Dr. Handel Kashope Wright on his appointment as the Senior Advisor to the President on Anti-Racism and Inclusive Excellence. In addition to advising President Ono on addressing issues of race, racism, representation and inclusive excellence, Dr. Wright will liaise with senior...

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