The Undergraduate Research Initiative: Integrating teaching and research at the University of Alberta

1. Integrating
Teaching
and
Research
Connie Varnhagen, Academic Director
Undergraduate Research Initiative

2. W HAT IS THE INTEGRATION OF
TEACHING AND RESEARCH ?
Healy, 2005
STUDENT-FOCUSED
STUDENTS AS PARTICIPANTS
Research-tutored Research-based
Curriculum emphasises Curriculum emphasises
learning focused on students students undertaking
writing and discussing papers inquiry-based learning
or essays
EMPHASIS ON
RESEARCH
EMPHASIS ON
PROCESSES
RESEARCH CONTENT
Research-led Research-oriented AND PROBLEMS
Curriculum is structured Curriculum emphasises
around teaching subject teaching processes of
content
knowledge construction in
the subject
TEACHER-FOCUSED
STUDENTS AS AUDIENCE

3. U OF A F RAMEWORK

4. W HY DO WE CARE ?
 Dare to Discover
 Learning, discovery, and citizenship
cornerstone
 Dare to Deliver
“Dare to Deliver 2011-2015 challenges members
of the academy to continue to think deeply
about how to connect their research with their
students’ learning experiences, and to engage
students in the excitement of pursuing their own
research projects.”

5. W HY DO WE CARE ?
 Prepare informed citizens
 Invigorate learning
 Enhance the student experience
 Invigorate teaching
 Enhance research
 Recruit students

6. H OW TO INTEGRATE
TEACHING AND RESEARCH

7. G ETTING STARTED
 Research grants
 Mentored research
 Course-based research
 Undergraduate Research
Initiative

8. F OUR MAIN FUNCTIONS OF URI
 To raise students’ awareness of and interest in
undergraduate research.
 To support students in developing the knowledge
and skills needed for participation in undergraduate
research.
 To facilitate opportunities for students to engage
in undergraduate research.
 To assist students in disseminating and
celebrating undergraduate research results
and achievements.

9. R AISING AWARENESS
 Student profiles
 Information about research
 URI Website: http://www.uri.ualberta.ca
 Library
 Links

10. S UPPORT K NOWLEDGE AND
S KILL DEVELOPMENT
 Workshops
 Drop-in sessions
 Field trips
 Online resources
 Professional development in
Faculties, Departments

11. FACILITATE O PPORTUNITIES
 URI database of opportunities
 https://eclass.srv.ualberta.ca/course/view.php?id=759
 Research funds
 To support undergraduate
researchers
 To support undergraduate
research

12. D ISSEMINATE AND C ELEBRATE
 Support SU Undergraduate
Research Symposium
 Posters in CCIS
 November 18, 10:00-3:00
 Undergraduate Research journals
and ERA

13. C ONTACT
URI location: 2-701 SUB
Connie Varnhagen
Academic Director, Undergraduate Research Initiative
780-492-0970
varn@ualberta.ca
Alexis Lockwood
Experiential Learning Coordinator, CAPS: Your U of A Career
Centre
780-492-6759
alexis.lockwood@ualberta.ca
Silvia Moreno
Programs Assistant, CAPS: Your U of A Career Centre
780-492-3474
uri@ualberta.ca