Current Research Projects
Listed below are projects in which we are currently involved. For the reports associated with completed projects, view Reports & Briefs.
What did you do in school today?
What did you do in school today? is a key research and development initiative launched in 2007 in support of the focus on adolescent learning and innovative practice. Visit the What did you do in school today? blog today.
Study of Ontario's Class Size Reduction Policy
CEA has undertaken a two-year policy implementation study of Ontario's Class Size Reduction Policy.
Research Initiatives
The CEA regularly undertakes research, or joins research partnerships, in areas that have the potential of advancing policy and practice in support of student learning.
A Focus on Adolescent Learning
CEA's emerging research agenda focuses on developing new perspectives on adolescent learning and human development and promoting an understanding of innovation in education.
CEA's research agenda is part of our broader agenda for youth (PDF) which aims to inspire new perspectives, nurture innovative thinking, and exchange knowledge among others who share CEA's vision for educational and social transformation in Canada.
Research Advisory Committee
The Research Advisory Committee provides strategic direction for CEA's research activities. Its members are drawn from across sectors and across the country.
Research Advisory Committee
Research Updates
CEA Releases Class Size Reduction Reports
CEA has released two reports on reducing class size: a formative evaluation of Ontario’s primary class size initiative; and a more ‘popular’ report for a broad national audience that includes what has been learned from the Ontario evaluation, a review of the literature and other jurisdictions.
CEA commissioned a research team from the Ontario Institute on Studies in Education (OISE), headed by Dr. Nina Bascia (OISE), to undertake a study that included data analysis, site visits, interviews with educators in eight school districts, and an on-line survey completed by over 3,000 parents. The 140-page evaluation report, Ontario’s Primary Class Size Reduction Initiative: Report on Early Implementation is available in English and French on CEA’s website. Although the study focused on Ontario, it has relevance and value across the country.
Reducing Class Size: What do we Know? provides insights into how to maximize the positive impact of class size reduction policies directed at elementary schools. Written by Dr. Nina Bascia, the report concludes that reducing class size can make a positive difference to teaching and learning particularly when combined with other policies that support effective classroom practice. But, primary class size reduction is no a “magic bullet” and how it is implemented may be as important as the policy itself.
Reducing Class Size: What do we know? (PDF, 23 pages, 623 KB)
Ontario’s Primary Class Size Reduction Initiative: Report on Early Implementation (PDF, 140 pages, 910 KB)
Q & A Document (PDF, 1 page, 29 KB)
February 24, 2010
CEA's 2009 Education Research Review
This is the second annual year-end review of education research that has been featured on the CEA website and in the Bulletin, our monthly newsletter. It summarizes, by theme, notable reports, briefs and studies, identifying trends and highlighting areas of consensus, tension, and discrepancy. Also included are recommendations to related articles from Education Canada, CEA’s flagship magazine. We trust you will find it useful for your work, and encourage you to share it with colleagues.
CEA's 2009 Education Research Review (PDF, 15 pages, 452 KB)
January 12, 2010
New OISE/CEA Web Tracker Project Aims to Pinpoint the Use of Online Research Materials in Education
Websites are often a primary vehicle used by researchers and educational organizations to disseminate research findings, yet little work has been done to determine whether or not people actually use these products, and even less work has explored how they use them. Our objective is to address this oversight. CEA web visitors who download our research materials can now fill out a brief five-minute survey to inform our analysis. OISE is offering free knowledge mobilization (KM) products in exchange for your time.
Use of Web-based Research Material CEA
January 11, 2010
New Research Findings for Parents Project
CEA and the Ontario Institute in Studies in Education (OISE) have teamed up to provide you with relevant and timely information based on current empirical educational research. The primary goal of this project is to get relevant and needed research into the hands of parents and other interested people. Five blurbs will be posted to our website throughout the 2009-2010 academic year. They will be written in plain language on topics of interest to parents, such as homework and class size.
Research Findings for Parents (PDF, 1 page, 60 KB)
October 21, 2009
Research Use and Its Impact in Secondary Schools - A CEA/OISE Collaborative Research Project
While there are growing efforts to address the gap between research evidence, policy and practice across sectors, efforts we call Knowledge Mobilization (KM), the sparse empirical work suggests that research use in education remains modest at best. This CEA/OISE collaborative study explores research use and its impact among secondary school leaders in Canada. The Executive Summary focuses on survey results from 188 educational leaders pertaining to district research culture and knowledge claims relevant to practice. For more information on this project or to learn more about KM in education please visit the “Research Supporting Practice in Education” website.
Research Use and Its Impact in Secondary Schools – Executive Summary (PDF, 9 pages, 500 KB)
August 27, 2009
Turnaround Schools and the Leadership They Require
This report details the results of research undertaken by Dr. Kenneth Leithwood (Associate Dean of Research at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education), which examined the context and contribution of principals in effecting school change in schools where student performance was significantly below provincial standards. This report will be of value to those who seek to turn around other low-performing schools.
Executive Summary (PDF, 9 pages, 136 KB)
Full Report (PDF, 89 pages, 640 KB)
To order one or more copies of Turnaround Schools and the Leadership They Require, please download our order form here.
Members $8, Non-Members $10
July 28, 2009
ÉTUDE ONTARIO/QUÉBEC
ÉTUDE ONTARIO/QUÉBEC is an interprovincial initiative of the Ministries of Education of Ontario and Quebec that examined the use of information technology in the classroom by comparing students’ level of engagement, comprehension and knowledge transfer using two different technologies. In Ontario, students used a digital audiovideo simulation training module on CD-Rom. In Quebec, students collaborated with peers and the teacher through the use of a Knowledge Forum. This comprehensive report details the process and results of this unique interprovincial collaboration. (Available in French only)
Full Report, Available in French only (PDF, 133 pages, 8.9 MB)
June 2, 2009
One-to-One Computing – A Compelling Classroom-Change Intervention
A Review of New Brunswick's Dedicated Notebook Research Project
CEA was commissioned by Hewlett-Packard Canada to create a case study describing the development, implementation and outcomes of New Brunswick's Dedicated Notebook Research Project. In addition to high levels of satisfaction with the notebook project among teachers, students, and administrators, participants also reported increased student engagement and improved quality of work—particularly among students with special needs. The case study also identifies critical success factors and lessons learned, which will be of interest to districts and governments considering similar initiatives.
Full Report (PDF, 296 KB, 12 pages)
Executive Summary (PDF, 60 KB, 3 pages)
December 17, 2008
Education Research Roundup - CEA's Year-End Review
This first annual Education Research Roundup presents a year-end review of education research that has been featured on the CEA website and in Bulletin. It summarizes, by theme, notable reports, briefs, and studies, identifying trends and highlighting areas of consensus, tension, and discrepancy. We trust you will find it useful for your work, and encourage you to share it with colleagues.
Education Research Roundup - CEA's Year-End Review
November 26, 2008
Class Size Reduction: What the Literature Suggests About what Works
The literature review, Class Size Reduction: What the Literature Suggests About what Works (PDF) is now available with a stand alone Executive Summary (PDF). This review includes analyses of over eighty reports and articles from a variety of Canadian and international sources, along with five in-depth descriptions of large-scale class size reduction initiatives. It was conducted as part of a CEA research study on The Effects of the Ontario Primary Class Size Reduction Policy. The final report, with findings and implications, will be released early in 2009.
November 24, 2008
New edition of At Issue available
In "Measuring Education Quality: Bringing Exceptional Learning Front and Centre" (PDF, 79 kb) author Jodene Dunleavy discusses the current arrangement in Canadian education systems where public reporting on key education performance indicators largely excludes information on students with exceptional learning needs, leaving such matters to irregular and less-coordinated reviews. Dunleavy argues that the data that is available on students with exceptional learning needs paints too incomplete a picture for us to really understand how such students are doing, hampering our progress towards equity and inclusive education.
June 12, 2008
Full data from CEA’s Public Attitudes Toward Education survey now available
CEA has released the full survey data from its fourth Public Attitudes Toward Education survey.
January 22, 2008
CEA Releases Public Education in Canada: Facts, Trends and Attitudes
This report contains results from CEA's fourth Public Attitudes Toward Education survey, which includes the opinions of over 2,400 Canadians between January and May 2007.
Click here to read the report online, or download a PDF.
November 23, 2007