Education

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. 

Summer in the city: Joint PhD in Educational Studies gets the Windsor experience

View of Windsor riverfront with people walkingJoint PhD in Educational Studies students are spending July 2026 on UWindsor's campus (FILE/University of Windsor)

By Kate Hargreaves 

On an extremely hot day in early July, 42 doctoral students arrived on the University of Windsor campus for the Joint PhD in Educational Studies 2026 summer institute.  

Over the whirr of handheld fans, first-year students introduced themselves to one another while second years exchanged hugs and life updates after a year apart. 

Pinning ceremony marks the pivot from trades to teaching for BEd tech candidates

Smiling woman holding a pin on a cardAnnie Armstrong pivoted from a career in film and television production to pursue a teaching career through the BEd Tech program (SHELBY JOHNSTON/University of Windsor)

By Kate Hargreaves

While July may be summer vacation for schools across Canada, it marks the beginning of the teaching careers of students in UWindsor’s Bachelor of Education in Technological Studies program. 

Hailing from all over the province, the BEd in Tech students spend the month of July on campus in the Faculty of Education before returning to their home school boards to complete their practicum and additional courses online.  

Teach Tanzania trip offers lessons in humility, collaboration and mutual learning

smiling students and a UWindsor teacher candidate sitting in the grass in TanzaniaEducation, nursing and social work students spent three weeks on the annual Teach Tanzania service-learning trip (CLINTON BECKFORD/University of WIndsor)

By Kate Hargreaves 

When recent nursing graduate Eunice Kungu travelled to Tanzania as part of the University of Windsor’s 2026 Teach Tanzania trip, it was for the second time. 

Kungu, who is originally from Kenya, first participated in the 2025 trip when she was a third-year nursing student. When the opportunity arose to return in 2026, she knew she wanted to go back. 

“What motivated me to return was the connection we built with the community and seeing the positive impact that comes from being part of this initiative,” Kungu says. 

Learning and resistance in the age of AI: Keynote to explore educational ethics

Lauren BialystokDr. Lauren Bialystok will be the keynote speaker for the 2026 summer session of the Joint PhD in Education, hosted at UWindsor this July (PROVIDED BY L. BIALYSTOK/University of Windsor)

By Kate Hargreaves 

Dr. Lauren Bialystok never wanted to research artificial intelligence (AI). 

"I feel like AI chose me more than I chose it,” she says. 

However, with the ubiquity of AI, including in her field of education, Bialystok found herself drawn to the topic. 

“I’ve seen changes over the last few years that portend such enormous shifts in what education is for and how we go about our business,” she says.