Dr. Lisa Korteweg
Dr. Lisa Korteweg believes that a solid understanding of K-12 classroom practices and pedagogies goes hand-in-hand with education research.
While she emphasizes that Lakehead's master's in education is distinct from a B.Ed, when teaching becomes the object of inquiry, she believes the insight and unique skill-set gained through a graduate degree can complement everyone's teaching and classroom performances.
"Teaching is truly researching; trying to understand students and each child's learning process, what's going on in the context of classroom and how the school itself is impacting students... every educator can benefit from the more research-oriented focus of a master's degree."
Dr. Korteweg's students have ample opportunity to explore their ideas about education both in and beyond the classroom. Her PhD students are researching end-of-life care education, the relationships between outdoor educators and Aboriginal peoples, and the incorporation of storytelling in the curriculum. Meanwhile, her master's students have examined topics as diverse as science education in Nunavut, the use of technologies like digital storytelling or Video-Voice by marginalized students, and analyzing masculinity in the classroom.
Students in the Faculty of Education are also able to expand their research horizons through a conference travel bursary program. Education faculty and students regularly attend major international education research conferences such as the American Education Research Association (AERA) annual meetings as well as the Canadian Society for Studies in Education (CSSE), part of the SSHRC Congress.
As well, Dr. Korteweg's students have embarked on some very impressive nationally-noted research. Her last major project on urban Aboriginal education involved a team of no less than 9 graduate students who presented their findings at provincial and federal conferences as well as a final 200 page report for the Ontario Ministry of Education and the Canadian Ministers of Education Council.
Where can graduates take their M.Ed? According to Dr. Korteweg, the sky's the limit. She explains that graduates can effectively apply their learnings in the K-12 classroom as well as in non-traditional settings such as colleges, community organizations, hospitals, and libraries. "Students can apply what they learn almost anywhere and it makes sense because almost everything that's done is related to education."