Topics of Focus
Children’s Education and Learning
We are passionate about investigating how children learn, develop, and make sense of their world. A key area of focus in our research is outdoor play and nature play. Our most recent work in this area has focused on comparisons of different types of outdoor play environments; however, we are interested in many facets of outdoor play and learning. We are also curious about other aspects of early learning pedagogy, such as play-based learning, pedagogical documentation practices, and emergent curriculum.
Adult Education and Learning
In addition to children’s learning, we are curious about how adults learn, both in post-secondary settings and in their professional careers. Recent research in this area has focused on teacher research and how it impacts an educator’s pedagogical approach. We are also curious about topics related to the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) and work to investigate different teaching techniques within post-secondary teaching.
Current Projects
- Voices of Play: Understanding Children’s Perspectives of Naturalized and Forested Outdoor Play Environments
- Principal Investigator: Kimberly Squires
- Co-Investigator: Kim Barton
- Student Researcher: Madi Stubbs
- Seasons of Play Pilot Study: A Comparative Study of Naturalized and Forested Playscapes and Their Effects on Children’s Play and Activity Levels
- Principal Investigator: Kimberly Squires
- Co-Investigator: Tricia van Rhijn
- Student Researchers:
- Christina Corsano
- Alanis Sanchez Nolte
- Katie McPhee
- Power of Play: An Investigation into Experiential Play-Based Learning in the Post-Secondary Context
- Principal Investigator: Kimberly Squires
- Co-Investigator: Tricia van Rhijn
- Student Researchers:
- Rohail Raza
- Funded by: University of Guelph AVPA Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Grant
Past Related Projects
- A Quasi-Experimental Comparison of Equipment-Based and Naturalized Playgrounds: Examining the Impact on Young Children’s Learning and Development
- Principal Investigator: Tricia van Rhijn
- Co-Investigator: Kimberly Squires