by Zian Zhang(Anne) Master of Education student

Max Antony-Newman and I were chosen as Curriculum Studies and Teacher Development (CSTD) program representatives at CTL Open House 2015. During the event, he answered many questions related to doctoral experience at OISE, which was the first time when I learned about the PhD program in detail. Last week, we met again to further talk about it. Now I want to share Max’s journey with you and hope that this could help those who plan to pursue PhD at OISE.

Max is a second year PhD student majoring in CSTD program under the supervision of Dr. Diane Gerin-Lajoie. He told me that PhD students in his program are required to complete six courses and one Doctoral Proseminar. Then students have to write a thesis proposal and pass comprehensive examination. OISE gives full-time funding for the four-year PhD program. Therefore, Max plans to finish his PhD in 2018.

I asked Max what he had learned from the PhD program. He said, “It helps me to understand complex educational and social phenomena, improve advanced research skills, and design my own study, which would hopefully benefit research, practice, and policy.” He also suggested, “It helps if you know what you want to study and how to go about it. If you are not sure, you will have some time to make your choice once in the program.”

During Max’s PhD journey, he walks as much as he can to release pressure. Walking helps him to clear his mind. Max’s family also helps him a lot. He plays with his younger son in free time. With family’s support, Max never feels lonely.

Max also did his Master’s at OISE. He joined the Master of Education (MEd) program in 2011 and transferred to Master of Arts (MA) program in the second year. He took eight courses when completing Master’s degree. Max’s favorite course was on Pierre Bourdieu and Inequality in Education taught by his eventual Master’s supervisor Dr. Diane Farmer. When taking this course, Max found his topic for Master’s thesis and theoretical framework for his PhD study.

Max came to Canada in 2010 as a skilled immigrant. Before that, he taught for ten years as an English teacher in his homeland country of Ukraine. Max spent seven years teaching in a university and three years in a language school. When he first came to Toronto, he taught IELTS in a private language school from 2010 to 2013.Then he became a teacher in the English Language Program of School of Continuing Studies at the University of Toronto from 2013 to 2014. Currently, Max is working as a Research Assistant with his supervisor Dr. Diane Gerin-Lajoie, whose scholarship is in the area of minority education and qualitative research. He also has a part-time job at YMCA of Greater Toronto as CLBA Language Assessor, administering CLBA test to newcomers to Canada and referring them to LINC and ESL classes. Meanwhile, he is served as CTLSA student representative and research volunteer for Social Justice and Elite Education conference, which took place at OISE in the summer of 2015.

This year, Max was awarded the Ontario Graduate Scholarship. In future, Max hopes to become a university professor in the field of education research. He said, “This is not easy in the current job market, but I will try my best, so I can help solve educational issues facing our schools.”

by Zian Zhang(Anne) Master of Education student

Hewton Tavares and I became friends because of the CENTRE FOR INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE (CIE)’s ICONNECT INTERNATIONAL MENTORSHIP PROGRAM. Hewton was my mentor in this program. In this role, Hewton’s primary job was to advise me as well as other international students. Hewton guided me through all the questions and concerns that I had at the time. Basically, Hewton led monthly activities in order to help me to familiarize myself with the city of Toronto.

Hewton Tavares is a doctoral student at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) of the University of Toronto. His department is the Social Justice in Education department. He is currently finishing his last year of the Doctor of Education program (EdD). His research focus is on the mentoring practices of immigrants in Canada. Hewton told me that, in the EdD program, students usually have to take eight courses at the first stage. Then they would have to finish doctoral proposals. If their proposals were accepted, students would do field work, and then transcribe their interviews. In the final stage of EdD program, students would have to write their dissertations, and then defend them.

Hewton’s favorite course was the Spirituality and Schooling which is taught by Dr. Njoki Wane. She is a professor from the Social Justice in Education department, and also the director of the Office of Teaching Support at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) of the University of Toronto. Her course is basically on how people’s spiritual connections affect their learning. The approach is mainly focused on Postcolonial studies. Overall, it is based on the assumption that people have different ways of knowing that need to be respected.

Hewton has lived in Toronto for over 14 years but he is originally from Brazil. He initially came to Toronto as an international student, and now he is a Canadian citizen as well. His undergraduate degree was in Business. Actually, Hewton studied Business Administration at the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil. He lived in Sao Paulo for 11 years before he coming to Toronto. In fact, Hewton is originally from a Brazilian city called Salvador, which is on the Northeast coast of the country.

After Hewton arrived in Canada, he has switched his career from marketing to education. He has then been a student at the University of Toronto both on the Masters and on the doctoral level as well. At OISE, Hewton started his Masters (Master of Education) in 2007, and his doctoral studies in 2010. Hewton told me that the he likes the way professors teach here, so he chose to do his EdD at OISE. Since I know that EdD students do not have access to the funding package, I asked Hewton how he paid for his tuition and living costs in Toronto. In response, Hewton told me that when he started EdD, he worked as a settlement worker for about two years. He has also got Graduate Assistantship positions from 2012 up to now. He has been as a research assistant in the university on a part-time basis. However, during most of his professional life in Canada, he worked with immigrants and international students in educational and non-profit organizations.

Towards the end of our interview, Hewton made the following comment: “The best gift from my studies was the gift of self-reflection. Before I started my studies, people’s views and ideas could have easily convinced me in many situations. Now I have developed so much in terms of my own knowledge that I am not so easily convinced about different points of view if they do not fit well enough into my own worldview.”

On his spare time, Hewton likes to walk his dog, and then get some fresh air in order to release the pressure from his studies. In this regard, he said that, “life is relative. Do your best but do not put your whole life into your studies. Keep your own friends and connections, wherever they are.” He also mentioned, “Never forget who you are and from where you came from.”

The next stage for Hewton is to get a full-time job related to education and/or immigration. He will look for a job in: (1) a college or university; (2) the government; or (3) even in a foundation or non-profit organization. He will also try to teach in a couple of evenings per week on a part-time basis. Hewton said, “While looking for a job, I will also try to start my own consulting business to help foreigners apply for colleges and universities in Canada.” In any case, if you are interested in Hewton’s skills and expertise, please feel free to contact him at ‪hewton.tavares@utoronto.ca.

by Zian Zhang(Anne) Master of Education student

The first time I met Rema Passarelli was in my first semester at OISE in September 2014. We took the same course SPECIAL TOPICS IN CURRICULUM: MASTERS LEVEL: 21 CENTURY COMPETENCIES, MULTILITERACIES, AND ASSESSMENT from Dr. Marlene Scardamalia. Then we chose another course ADVANCED LEGAL ISSUES IN EDUCATION from Judge Marvin Zuker together last semester. The law course is one of our favorite courses at OISE. Judge Zuker is a very nice grandpa XD.

Rema is a second year PhD student at OISE. She is majoring in Curriculum Studies and Teacher Development – Equity Studies. Rema told me that she is working on refining choices for the program now. She wants to incorporate her advisor’s influential work dealing with Knowledge Building Technology while maintaining a focus on “abuse of power” and anti-oppressive education.I asked Rema what she learned from her program. She said, “I am still learning. From an affective perspective, I realized that everyone feels a little uncertain about the thesis focus; ideas do change. I learned that there are so many philosophies that influence our daily decisions. Unfortunately, some of those philosophies can be insidious. I wonder a lot about colonialism and privilege. I especially wonder about the impact of Information Technology on shaping society, education, and social psychology.”

In Rema’s leisure time, she walks and exercises as much as possible to release stress when she pursues her PhD. She tries to balance her lifestyle by organizing her time around work, family, friends, social events, and research. Prayer, meditation, and journal writing also help her tremendously.

Rema also gave some suggestions to those who want to pursue PhD degree. She advised that PhD students would need two professors to support application. The PhD is usually built upon Masters thesis. However, the focus for PhD research may change after you are accepted. Your in-depth research and advisors will steer your ideas. Most importantly, connect with other PhD students and form support groups.

Rema was born in Toronto but she currently lives in Hamilton, Ontario. She has had a lifelong passion for teaching and learning. Over the past 33 years, Rema taught in the Catholic schools for the Hamilton and Toronto school boards. Meanwhile, Rema completed a MEd at OISE and did the teacher training program at University of Toronto.

In future, Rema hopes to teach at a College or University once she completes the doctoral program.