Research
The Phi Delta KaResearch is a major focus of Phi Delta Kappa. In fact, Phi Delta Kappa International has a number of research bulletins and publications provide research support, including free database searches of all Phi Delta Kappa publications for members.
The University of Toronto Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa supports research in its program and by liaising with key research groups. The the Association of Educational Researchers of Ontario (AERO) and the Canadian Evaluation Society, Ontario Chapter (CES) are three key organizations in the province that support classroom, school and school district research and evaluation. In addition, there are a number of research databases, research associations, action research sites and online publications that support research. We have identified a few key links below to help you locate information and establish a viable research network.
Phi Delta Kappa International also hosts the Curriculum Management Audit Center and co-ordinates the training and the conduct of audits. In Ontario, we have recently hosted Curriculum Management Audit Training sessions and a related training program called Classroom Walk-Throughs. In the near future, another related training program called Curriculum Alignment will be offered in Ontario. You may wish to read an article in Ontario Principal Council Register on Classroom Walk-Throughs. If you want further information about these local training programs, please contact fellow Kappans Bev Freedman or Clay Lafleur.
A list of Ontario based training programs for the Curriculum Management Audit, Classroom Walk-Throughs and Curriculum Alignment is provided here.
The Effective Schools Task Force Report (also see the results of a Google report on this topic) highlighted year-round schooling in Ontario. A recent PDK publication on year-round schools (and also this link)reflects the findings of an international research study on year-round schools (and also this link). If you want further information about this research that involves year-round schools in Ontario, please contact fellow Kappan Clay Lafleur.
Chapter-based Awards
Awards for Education Students
Phi Delta Kappa is an international organization dedicated to promoting quality education.
The University of Toronto chapter sponsors awards for students at all levels of education.
Self-nominations are welcome!
Prospective Educator Scholarship
Who: Secondary school students who are planning to major in education
What: Chapter winners receive $100 and a year's membership in PDK and are automatically entered in the PDK International competition, which offers awards up to $1,000 US
Contact: Moveta Nanton or David Keffer
Applications Due: December 20, 2006
Excellence in Student Teaching Award
Who: Faculty of Education students (BEd) doing in-school teaching practica
What: Chapter winners receive $100 and a year's membership in PDK and are automatically entered in the PDK International competition, which offers awards up to $1,000 US
Contact: Moveta Nanton or David Keffer
Applications Due: December 20, 2006
Jackman Award
Who: Faculty of Education students (BEd and graduate)
What: Chapter winners receive $500 and a year's membership in PDK
Contact: Ruth Childs
Applications Due: April 15, 2007
Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Award
Who: Recent doctoral graduates of Faculties of Education
What: Chapter winners receive a year's membership in PDK and are automatically entered in the PDK International competition, which offers awards up to $5,000 US and publication of a summary in the Phi Delta Kappan magazine
Contact: Clay Lafleur
Applications Due: August 15, 2007
Funding for these awards comes from the PDK Foundation, Patrons, and the Walk for Education. The U of T chapter also supports the Future Educators Association.
Training and Partnerships with PDK
Curriculum Management Services Inc. (CMSi) has developed a series of programs designed to enhance a school district′s capacity to improve student achievement. The first of these was the Curriculum Audit, developed by Dr. Fenwick English in 1979 for use with the Columbus Public School District. The audit is based upon generally-acceptable concepts pertaining to effective instruction and curricular design and delivery.
The audit is composed of five standards. Findings are reported based on triangulated data sources and report the extent to which a district is meetings its goals and objectives. Curriculum Audits have been performed in hundreds of American school districts and in countries including Canada, Bermuda, Saudi Arabia, and New Zealand. School districts contact PDK to request audits and arrangements are made through the PDK-CMSI partnership. Recently the service has been expanded to include small district and individual school audits. For more information visit curriculum.audit@pdkintl.org.
CMSi and PDK also offer the Downey Classroom Walk-Through training. This training focuses on increasing principal instructional leadership and visibility and reflective practice in schools. In addition, there are programs dealing with Curriculum Alignment, examining Student Work and 50 Ways to Close the Achievement Gap.
You can visit their web site at www.curriculumsystems.com.
back to topKey Research Links
Search Engines
Google
Dogpile
Yahoo
Engine Watch
All the web.com
Ask.com
Search Engine Watch.com
RegisterEverywhere.com
Research Databases
ERIC
ERS
Internet Public Library
Onteris
Ingenta Fee based
Canadian Social Research
iTools.com
The Educator's Reference Desk, Information Institute of Syracuse
Library Spot
The Virtual Reference Desk, University of Denver
Jim Martindale's The Reference Desk, Australia
Wikipedia
ERIC - Education Reseources Information Centre
Best Online Reference Sites, Ramapo Catskill Library System
Purdue University, Indiana
PDR Health, The Thomson Corporation
Province of British Columbia
School of Law, Emory University, Atlanta
Web Junction - "An online community for library staff"
MeL - Michigan State eLibrary
Library of Congress - Ask a librarian...
Curriculum Services Canada
Leading Edge Learning
Research Associations/Organizations
AERA
NAtd
OERI
Regional Research Labs
BERA(British)
NFER (UK)
NZCER (New Zealand)
AARE (Australia)
CSSE
Action Research Sites
CARN
CARP
Jack Whitehead
Queen′s University
Grand Erie
Southern Cross
Online Journals
The Ontario Action Researcher
Education Review
Current Issues in Education
Education Policy Analysis Archives
Research and Reflection
Leadership in Learning
Time Higher Educational Supplement
Harvard Educational Review
Education Week
Practical Assessment, Research & Evaluation
Chronicle of Higher Education
Rethinking Schools
UBC Library of Journal Links
AERA electronic journal list
