Educational Leadership Harbour Centre Cohort

Job / Responsibilities

Research Interests

Comp Exam Questions

Wendy Carr

Teacher educator at UBC and SFU, VP of BC Association of Modern Languages Teachers. My mission for many years has been to help improve the quality of teaching and learning of second languages. Seconded 2004-06 by the Surrey School District to oversee its implementation of BC's first Intensive French program.

Presently coordinating the BEd French program, working with faculty and student teachers at UBC.

Canada's bilingualism dream: A case study of Intensive French

This study analyzes Canadian bilingual education policies and the implementation of a new second language program. It includes analysis of sociopolitical forces, the effects of the program on school and district culture, and the role of leadership within the implementation process.


How will Canada's dream of linguistic duality be realised in Surrey, BC? How does a dialogic process within a responsive evaluation framework influence organizational learning?


1. Write an introduction to your study that provides background information and a rationale, a historical review of French second language programs in Canada in the context of Federal language policies, and a theoretical discussion of issues related to language planning and policy. Following this, present a critical discussion of innovations in French second language education and the emergence of Intensive French as they relate to Bourdieu's theory of language economy, Anderson's notion of imagined communities, the commodification of bilingualism in Canada and forces of globalization. Demonstrate how these constructs provide you with relevant analytic tools to frame your study of Intensive French.

2. Provide a detailed discussion of case study methodology by situating it in a broader tradition of qualitative research,interpretive epistemology and ethical approaches to fieldwork. Describe case study approaches that are most relevant to your research on leadership and social processes in Intensive French programs.
Pat Hibbits
Vice President Finance and Administration, Simon Fraser University, responsible for operations of nonacademic departments of the university including: financial planning, budget, risk management, finance, accounting, ancillary services, treasury, human resources, labour relations, health and safety, security, purchasing, facilities management and campus planning and development, computing services (this latter a joint responsibility with the VP Academic). I am interested in the interactions between parents and schools, particularly in the case of children with special needs, learning disabilities or other "at risk" factors.


1. Describe the place of narrative methodology in qualitative research in education and discuss its strengths and weaknesses. What kinds of social settings and interpersonal situations lend themselves to investigation using this particular method? Develop an argument for why you would use narrative to study the particular social settings that you name.

2. Choosing three of the four, describe and discuss the development of hermeneutic, critical, phenomenological, or feminist traditions of research; give a sense of breadth for each; explain differences and tensions between the traditions you choose. Demonstrate (using examples) how these will could be applied practically and methodologically to your research,; highlighting the limitations and strengths of each as they relate to your research proposed study.

Nym Hughes
I work as the Co-ordinator of Instructional and Learner Development at the Centre for Conflict Resolution at the Justice Institute of BC. I am responsible for managing our curriculum development and review processes, our assessment and PLAR processes and various other program management functions. I also represent my division on the institute-wide Program Council which develops policy recommendations. To further the discussion of whether a facilitative leadership style is possible to enact within the hierarchical setting of a college by measuring how closely the facilitative leadership style reported used by feminist administrators is translated into leadership practice as perceived by their subordinates.

1. Proposal
The proposal will provide a comprehensive review of the future dissertation entitled: Tracing the intellectual history of a post-secondary conflict resolution program: Ideas, practice and significance.

2. Literature review
The literature relating to the history of the conflict resolution field in North American, the history of the B.C. college and institute system and the impact on post-secondary education of economic and political shifts will be examined in light of its relevance to the research questions.


Cheryl Jeffs
Faculty member at Douglas College (New Westminster BC) in Child, Family and Community Studies, Program Manager, Continuing Education. Portfolio of responsibilities includes the management of five certificate programs, the development of new programs, and customized training. I provide leadership to the instructors, screen student applications, market programs, work with advisory boards and the Faculty Education Council on new and existing programs/courses, and represent the Faculty on the Douglas College Professional Development Committee, and the BC Career Information Partnership committee (BCCIP). Research Interests
The history of the community college in British Columbia.
Mission alteration of the colleges.
The impact of provincial legislation.
1: Proposal
Write a proposal for the study on “A case study of scholarly activity in a British Columbia community college: From practice to policy”. Include an overview of the research problem and question, literature review, the research gap and the significance of this study, and proposed research design, method and analysis of findings. Conclude with a time frame and plans to complete this research.

Question 2: Introductory Chapter
Write an introductory chapter expanding on the proposal and include some of the history and definition of scholarly activity in the community colleges in British Columbia. Further explore the contribution and significance of this study to include possible implications for both administrative and faculty leadership. Provide an outline for the following chapters in the dissertation.
Edith Kirkpatrick
I manage the financial and administrative issues for SFU Continuing Studies, including budget and financial management, human resources issues, and unit administration. I am interested in institutional planning and policy related to the role that educational technology plays in a student's educational experience.  Related areas of interest include student perceptions and experiences of educational technology as a part of their total educational experience, and research on whether educational technology delivers a superior, equivalent or inferior educational experience (and how that would/could be evaluated) in relation to the entire undergraduate program. Proposal
The proposal will include a comprehensive overview of the dissertation tentatively entitled "A capital notion: An exploration of the implicatios for related stakeholders of notions of symbolic, social and epistemic capital embodied in EdD programs". A detailed outline and completion plan will be included in the proposal. This will be a mixed method study and will incorporate philosophical and historical analysis as well as various forms of empirical research.

2. Theoretical Framework
There is an ongoing debate in the professional doctorate literature concerning the relative status and value of the EdD versus PhD degrees. In light of this debate, how might notions of different forms of symbolic, social and epistemic capital provide a useful construct in developing a deeper understanding of the unique contributions that EdD research makes to knowledge creation? Clarification of notions of practical and theoretical knowledge would also need to be undertaken prior to any investigation of the attitudes and interests of related stakeholders.

Lynne MacFadgen
I am currently working as Coordinator School and Community Liaison within Student Services at Malaspina University-College in Nanaimo. I am responsible for implementing short and long-term recruitment and retention strategies aimed at sustaining optimal enrolment at our University-College. The guiding principles of our Office reinforce the importance of creating community, reducing confusion, and establishing meaningful and durable connections with prospective and current students. As we move to University status, I anticipate that the Office organizational structure and my primary job functions will change to expand our focus and direction.

What organizational policies and programs are worth retaining, strengthening and/or changing at Malaspina in order to maximize student retention and minimize attrition, as we move to University status?

 

Or

 

What factors (including both organizational and individual) are most predictive of student persistence and academic performance after the first year of post-secondary education?

Proposal
The proposal will provide a comprehensive overview of the future dissertation entitled: "Mature students in the persistence puzzle: An exploration of the factors that contribute to adult learners' quality of student life and retention in post-secondary education." A detailed outline and completion plan will be included in the proposal.

Theoretical framework
The capacity of certain adult learners to persist in a course of study is reported to involve a complex interaction of personal characteristics, life circumstances, and institutional environment. In light of the theoretical and empirical claims in the student retention literature, how might notions of 'quality of life' offer a useful construct for deepening our understanding of mature students' persistence in post-secondary education? Quality of life is conceptualized as multidimensional and holistic and is placed within the broader theoretical context of adult learning, student devleopment and health promotion.

John Morrison
Senior Director of Support for WebCT: managing the support organization behind WebCT, producers of online course software for universities and colleges around the world. 
Website

WORKING TITLE

Sharing, collaboration and consortiums: large scale, inter-institutional

collaboration around online learning: what works?

 

WORKING QUESTION

What models of educational collaboration or sharing have proved effective in consortiums or large scale inter-institutional collaboration around online-learning?

 
Tom Nerini
I am the Assistant Director of Admissions at Western Washington University.  My job is to attract, review and select students for admission to the university.  I do a lot of work with students of color and underrepresented groups. 

Can non-cognitive factors alone predict greater success in college than cognitive measures, or are non-cognitive and cognitive measures together more accurate predictors of success?

How do the major theories of retention apply to students transferring from a tribal two-year college to university, especially as they relate to the transitional year?

1. Proposal
The proposal will provide a comprehesive overview of the future dissertation entitled: What are the issues and obstacles faced by transfer students from a two-year tribal college during their transition year to a four-year university? A detailed outline and completion plan will be included in the proposal.

2. Introduction
The draft introductory chapter will state the purpose of the research. It will introduce the substantive, theoretical and methodological aims of the research and state the broad issues or problems (linked to the specific aims) to be investigated. It will include a justification of the substantive topic's significance, a description of the context of the inquiry, and an outline of the rest of the study.
Rod Paynter
I'm working as a TA in EDUC 220, Educational Psychology, at SFU.  The learning I am doing by teaching this course is applicable to my doctoral studies – synchronicity strikes again!  My last job was as Executive Director of the Lillooet Learning Communities Society, spending federal money to enhance learning opportunities in the Lillooet area communities. The creation and sustainability of Community Economic Development projects are directly dependent on the intra- and inter-personal skills of CED practitioners and community participants.  My interest is in how practitioners go about ensuring that those foundation skills are in place.

1. Proposal
The proposal will provide a comprehesive overview of the future dissertation entitled: Assessing the efficacy of NewStart Life Skills. A detailed outline and completion plan will be included in the proposal.

2. Introduction
The draft introductory chapter will state the purpose of the research. It will introduce the substantive, theoretical and methodological aims of the research and state the broad issues or problems (linked to the specific aims) to be investigated. It will include a justification of the substantive topic's significance, a description of the context of the inquiry, and an outline of the rest of the study.

Gwen Point


 

I am the Education Manager for Sto:lo Nation Government.  There are 19 First Nation communities connected to the Sto:lo Nation.  This means there are 19 chiefs who represent the Sto:lo.  I oversee the Kindergarten to Grade 12 Program and Post Secondary.   There are six school districts and two college/ universities in Sto:lo Territory.  I work with all the school districts and local universities and colleges to create initiatives/programs/partnerships to support First Nation students in the public education system.  To further support First Nation education, I have been involved in creating and maintaining the Halqemeylem Language Program. Drop out rate for Aboriginal students is decreasing. Why? How have support services helped students? Links with language and culture?  
Heidi Verburg
I currently work as the Community Liaison Coordinator for the Institute for Aboriginal Health at UBC.  The overall objective of this position is to link the Aboriginal community with UBC.  Some of the projects I have worked on include:  Summer Science at UBC for Aboriginal youth; implementation of the Aboriginal Health Care Administration Program (AHCAP) in conjunction with UBC Continuing Studies; Teach an Aboriginal health course (IHHS 404); Teach for the First Nations Bachelor of Social Work (FNBSW) program; Act as faculty liaison for Aboriginal students in the School of Social Work and Family Studies at UBC; and many other miscellaneous duties.

(1) What forms of holistic healing work most effectively with Aboriginal parents (women) struggling with addictions?
(2) What strategies support parenting for Aboriginal parents (women) with addictions?
(3) Are there defined relationship patterns between addicted Aboriginal mothers and their children?
(4) Do different types of addictions affect how Aboriginal mothers parent?

 

1: Proposal
The proposal will address the following: How does an agency like Vancouver Aboriginal Child and Family Services Society operationally define cultural programming in their approach to protecting children and supporting families within their role as a delegated agency under the Child, Family and Community Services Act? A qualitative grounded theory approach, utilizing community-based participatory action and the 4R’s of Aboriginal research (respect; relevance; reciprocity and responsibility) will be used to increase understanding of a cultural programming approach to supporting families and protecting children. The proposal will include: the history of Aboriginal people in Canada – related to Aboriginal child welfare services (particularly in British Columbia); a discussion of program evaluation; research design/rationale/method; data analysis; a detailed outline and completion plan.

2. Introduction. This draft of chapter one will include: introduction – my story; need/purpose for study; rationale for study; overview of study; plus an extended literature review of Aboriginal traditional cultural knowledge and epistemologies and how they may apply to an urban Aboriginal social work approach to child welfare practice.
Terry Waterhouse
I am a faculty member in the Department of Criminology at the University College of the Fraser Valley (UCFV). UCFV has made a commitment to developing expertise in safe school and at-risk issues for youth and when they created a faculty position related to these areas I jumped at the chance. Restorative justice as an alternative model. What happens to youth who are going through a restorative justice approach? Impacts of restorative approaches on criminally involved young people.

Examine the ethic of care literature and the literature on "at risk" youth, at it pertains to youth who drop out of school or who are expelled and who feel that schools are not welcoming places for them. In the process of discussing this literature, discuss how the question(s) you have chosen to investigate for your dissertation builds on and adds to this literature.

Drawing on research methodology literature, carefully outline the methods you have chosen for your dissertation study, show how you plan to employ these methods in your study, and provide a justification for this choide of methods as the best way to investigate your question(s).