Dr. Paula Waatainen

EdD (Learning Sciences) MEd, BEd (Social Studies Education) BA (Political Science & History)
Professor

Faculty:

Education

Department:

Education

Languages:

English

Contact:

Contact through VIU Communications

Expertise

Classroom assessment and reporting

Designing assessments of competency

K-12 BC curriculum

Democratic deliberation

K-12 political education

Educational design thinking

Fields

Learning sciences

Authentic assessment

Social studies curriculum

Political education

Social studies education

Place-based learning

Design-based research

Research goals

I research how teachers can design more authentic ways of assessing the growth of competencies in their students instead of relying solely on pencil and paper tests and papers. I also research how engaging students in real-world problems and processes, like local urban planning consultations and powerful simulations, can help build competencies associated with active, participatory citizenship. In my research, I think it’s important to get into classrooms and work directly with teachers to design learning activities and assessments that respond to best practice in assessment and social studies education.