TDSB-OISE Action Research Team

Part of the collaboration between OISE's Sustainability & Climate Action Network (SCAN) and the TDSB's Sustainability Office, begun in the fall of 2017, is to add to the field of ESE research, with a particular focus on the experiences and impacts of preservice and inservice professional learning for teachers, as well as on practitioner-led research into Environmental & Sustainability Education (ESE). The latter focuses on Action Research in TDSB classrooms to cultivate promising practices in ESE across the school board.

An Action Research team was formed in 2018 to support an ongoing Professional Learning Community in ESE. The team was formed by those who had completed their Specialist Qualification in ESE, and those who already had research projects in this field. A review of the related research literature showed that as of 2023, this was the only Action Research team focused on ESE was also one of only a few groups of teacher-researchers focused on ESE in North America.

Over the last five years, these teachers-researchers have risen to the challenge of becoming leaders in ESE in the school board, in addition to their regular classroom duties. They have investigated a range of research topics, from exploring teachers’ pedagogy for water education and waste education, nature-based loose parts play, citizen science, and integrating Indigenous education with ESE. They have shared their research findings through conference presentations, research publications, after-school workshops, and EcoSchools tours of their schools. They are also helping to educate the next generation of EcoSchools teachers by supporting OISE students in research and practicum placements.

Team Members: Bonnie Mulrooney, Hongliang Hu, Rebeka Ly, Paul Hackl, Alison Williams, Dan Kunanec, Alexandra Goumakos, Elizabeth Pasternak, Gigi Shanks,  Jessie Sawyer, Amanda Humphreys, Hilary Inwood, Sarah Urquhart.

• How Environmental Education can Contribute to a ‘Just’ Recovery - Pam Miller, Jenn Vetter, Chris Metropolis
• Eco-Teaching & E-Learning - Rebecca Chahine, Nancy Gillis, Bonnie Mullrooney, Patricia Heibein, Adrienne Rigler and Marion (Gigi) Shanks
• Reconnecting With Nature: Action Research On Nature-Based Learning in The Kindergarten Program - Hongliang Hu and Patricia Heinbein
• Adventures in Citizen Science - Catherine Kurucz and Linda Ryan
• Natural Collaborations: Exploring Teachers' Action Research into Environmental Education - Hilary Inwood, Catherine Kurucz, Adrienne Rigler, Linda Ryan, and Hongliang Hu
• Beautiful Ecology: Deepening Connection to Place - Amanda Humphreys and Jessie Sawyers
• Nuturing Local Water Education - Adrienne Rigler and Marion (Gigi) Shanks

• Hongliang Hu (2024). Using action research to infuse nature-based loose parts play into the Kindergarten Program, Early Years: An International Journal of Research and Development.
• Hongliang Hu (2022). Rethinking nature journaling in the Kindergarten Program action research in learning and teaching. Journal of Outdoor & Environmental Education.
• Hilary Inwood (2021). Growing Action Research on Environmental Learning in Schools: A School-University Partnership. Educational Action Research.
• Jesse Sawyers & Amanda Humphreys et al (2021). Beautiful Ecologies: Deepening Connection. Innovations in Early Education: The International Emilio Reggio Exchange.
• Hilary Inwood (2020). Certified Green: The TDSB’s EcoSchools Program is growing into a national school movement. Education Canada,.
• Hilary Inwood (2021). Creating a Climate of Change: Professional Development in Environmental and Sustainability Education through University and School Board Partnerships. Canadian Journal of Environmental Education.