Education

Visiting scholar explores STEM education and Canadian culture

George Zhou and Guifang Cheng in front of the UWindsor Welcome CentreVisiting scholar Dr. Guifang Cheng and host supervisor in the Faculty of Education Dr. George Zhou (PROVIDED BY G. ZHOU/University of Windsor)

By Kate Hargreaves 

While Canadian and Chinese culture may appear very different, visiting scholar Dr. Guifang Cheng says there are more commonalities than she expected. 

An associate professor in the Faculty of Educational Technology and Media at China's Liaocheng University, Cheng has been working with researchers in UWindsor's Faculty of Education since July.  

Her first visit to Canada has also introduced her to local traditions, including celebrations of the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival and Canadian Thanksgiving. 

New additional qualification course helps teachers counter Islamophobia

Asma Ahmed, Naved Bakali and Qaiser Ahmad in front of a projector screen with presentation slide about importance of AQ courseDrs. Asma Ahmed and Naved Bakali alongside TDSB principal Qaiser Ahmad have developed a new AQ course combatting Islamophobia in schools (PROVIDED BY A. AHMED/University of Windsor)

By Kate Hargreaves 

Faith is an important part of how some students understand themselves and the world around them, and they do not leave this part of their identity at the classroom door. 

A new additional qualification (AQ) course offered by the University of Windsor’s Faculty of Education aims to help teachers gain the knowledge and practical tools to better support Muslim students and respond to Islamophobia in educational settings. 

Teaching without borders: Building global mindsets for next-gen teachers in Botswana and beyond

Juliet Bushi at Botswana Open UniversityDr. Juliet Bushi at Botswana Open University (PROVIDED BY J. BUSHI/University of Windsor)

By Kate Hargreaves 

A new opportunity for experiential learning and research is available to UWindsor students this coming summer in Botswana. 

Part of the Faculty of Education’s Global Community Engagement Program (GCEP), which already provides international service-learning opportunities in China, Jamaica and Tanzania, Botswana is the latest country to be added to this list of options. 

From teacher to restaurateur, education alumna brings a taste of Vietnam to Windsor-Essex

Giang and her husband and two children in front of the Pho Xic Lo restaurantGiang Nguyen and her family outside their Windsor restaurant, Pho Xic Lo (PROVIDED BY G. NGUYEN/University of Windsor)

By Kate Hargreaves 

Giang Nguyen had never owned a restaurant or even worked in a kitchen when she moved to Canada three years ago with her family. 

A trained teacher with a master's degree in teaching English as a second language from her home country of Vietnam, Nguyen came to Windsor to pursue a master of education at the University of Windsor. 

Three years later, she's earned her degree and traded the classroom for the kitchen, becoming the owner of two Vietnamese restaurants in Windsor-Essex. 

Visiting scholar explores differences in Canadian and Chinese classrooms

Min Fan next to University of Windsor signDr. Min Fan is a visiting scholar at the Faculty of Education (ZUOCHEN ZHANG/University of Windsor)

By Kate Hargreaves 

For visiting scholar Dr. Min Fan, one of the biggest surprises about Canadian elementary education has been the relatively limited presence of artificial intelligence (AI) in her daughter's classroom compared to schools in her native China. 

PhD research explores Indigenous Knowledges in mathematics

Four people in front of a picture windowDr. Evra Trought-Pitters and her committee members in the new Graduate Defence Room. L to R, Dr. Festus Moasun, Dr. James Oloo, Trought-Pitters and Dr. Clinton Beckford. (Courtesy of Evra Trought-Pitters/University of Windsor)

By Sara Elliott

Dr. Evra Trought-Pitters sees a future where Indigenous Knowledges are meaningfully included in Ontario elementary and secondary mathematics education.

The Toronto District School Board educator recently defended her University of Windsor doctoral dissertation in education, examining how educational leaders can help teachers incorporate Indigenous Knowledges and perspectives into mathematics instruction respectfully.

New guide to help teachers respond to disclosures of sexual violence

Cover for the CARE guide on a tablet held by a manA virtual launch Oct. 5 marks the release of a new guide to support teachers in responding to sexual violence (CANVA STOCK/University of Windsor)

By Kate Hargreaves 

Before the age of 15, 45 per cent of Canadian teens will experience dating violence. 

For educators who find themselves on the receiving end of disclosures, knowing how to respond can be daunting. 

That’s what motivated a new guide to help teachers respond to sexual violence disclosures in trauma-informed ways. 

Women on wheels as alumna makes cycling more inclusive

Kim Rocheleau holding a water bottle and wearing a cycling helmetKim Rocheleau is the founder of the Dirt Divas women's mountain biking group and successfully led 13 Women's 100 road cycling events in Windsor-Essex (PROVIDED BY K. ROCHELEAU/University of Windsor)

By Kate Hargreaves 

When Kim Rocheleau (BHK ’95, BEd ’06) finishes her workday as a high school principal with the Greater Essex County District School Board, she often hits the road — or the trail — on two wheels rather than four. 

When she’s not supporting students and staff at Vincent Massey Secondary School, she shares the joy of cycling with women across Essex County. 

Earlier this month, she organized the 13th annual — and final — local Women’s 100, marking more than a decade of leading the inclusive cycling event.  

Are future teachers ready for social-emotional learning?

Elizabeth SzymanskiElizabeth Szymanski is a doctoral candidate in education researching pre-service teachers' familiarity with social-emotional learning (PROVIDED BY E. SZYMANSKI/University of Windsor)

By Kate Hargreaves 

Being a teacher is about more than getting kids up to speed on their reading, writing and math. 

Teachers also support students as they solve problems, build relationships, set goals and manage emotions. 

These skills are part of social-emotional learning (SEL), which takes place every day in elementary and secondary schools. But PhD researcher Elizabeth Szymanski (BA, ECE, BEd, MEd) says that teacher candidates don’t necessarily feel prepared to take it on.