October 30, 2009 – Innovative, engaging and inspiring. Three words which describe the research being performed daily in the Faculty of Education.

To showcase this work a Graduate Student Research Poster Conference was held for students across all degree programs to present their research in poster form and discuss their findings with faculty and students.

Presenter and former Master of Education student Geoff Pinchbeck was impressed with the quality of work taking place.

"I had no idea that there was such a range of research projects connected to the Faculty of Education. It was a great chance to meet some of the students and faculty who conduct research outside my own area."

Beyond acquainting students with each others work, Associate Dean of Research Don Saklofske believes there are several other significant reasons for holding this type of conference.

"The promotion of a research culture in the Faculty of Education is of critical importance and our graduate students are certainly a very large part of what defines educational research."

Saklofske adds that showcasing the diversity of the research encourages a more open view of what educational research is and that the work of today’s students is of particular importance to the future of education.

"It is our students who will define the practices of tomorrow based on the evidence of their research."

Only in its second year, the conference saw an increase from 30 displays last year to more than 50 this year.

Pinchbeck, whose research analyzes the program placement decisions and subsequent student success in English for Academic Purposes programs, found the event particularly helpful.

"I was an M.Ed. student and didn't really have an opportunity to get feedback on this project from people outside my field. I have been encouraged to publish this work, so it was useful to interact with people who were more willing to challenge the assumptions that are built in to the paradigm in which I work."

A selection of the posters presented will be displayed on the main floor of the Education link over the coming weeks.