Action Research on Imaginative Education – The Centre For Imagination In Research, Culture & Education

Since the early 1970s educators in many countries have been responding to Imaginative Education (IE) in various ways—reviewing, critiquing, implementing, researching. The research on IE is diverse, as practicing teachers, professors of education, and educational researchers have examined the effectiveness of IE for use with PreK through Higher Education learners, and exploring the myriad implications of the IE approach for educational practice and curriculum change. Rather than offering a comprehensive database of all IE research, this page highlights some research affiliated previously with the Imaginative Education Research Group (currently with CIRCE) and graduate programs in IE at Simon Fraser University.

This page hosts some Action Research projects on a range of topics from graduate students in IE MEd programs.

Action Research Projects by Topic & Theme

Assessment

An Exploration Of How Formative Assessment And Self-Evaluation Can Empower Learners (2017) By Ashleigh Albach

Albach. A. (2017). “An Exploration of How Formative Assessment and Self-Evaluation Can Empower Learners.” Unpublished MEd Action Research Project, Simon Fraser University.

Critical and Creative Thinking

English as an Additional Language

Engaging Teachers And Students In The Multicultural ESL Classroom: A Journey (2017) By Fatima Jalali-Tehrani

Jalali-Tehrani, F. (2017). “Engaging Teachers And Students In The Multicultural ESL Classroom: A Journey.” Unpublished MEd Action Research Project, Simon Fraser University.

Implementing Imaginative Education Through Mentoring With An English As An Additional Language Focus (2015) By Carolina Lopez

Lopez, C. (2015). “Implementing Imaginative Education Through Mentoring With An English As An Additional Language Focus.” Unpublished MEd Action Research Project, Simon Fraser University.

Honouring Home Languages In The Kindergarten Classroom (2017) By Shelley Sunner

Sunner, S. (2017). “Honouring Home Languages In The Kindergarten Classroom.” Unpublished MEd Action Research Project, Simon Fraser University.

French

Humour

Stop Me If You’ve Heard This One: An Exploration of Jokes and Humour as Cognitive Tools (2019) By Allie Hamilton

Hamilton, A. (2019). “Stop Me if You’ve Heard This One: An Exploration of Jokes and Humour as Cognitive Tools.” Unpublished MEd Action Research Project, Simon Fraser University.

Humour In Humanities: A Collection Of Teaching Anecdotes, Some Research, And An Examination Of Metacognition In A Grade 9 Classroom (2017) By Wendy Johnston

Johnston, W. (2017). “Humour In Humanities: A Collection Of Teaching Anecdotes, Some Research, And An Examination Of Metacognition In A Grade 9 Classroom.” Unpublished MEd Action Research Project, Simon Fraser University.

IE Individualized Learning

Imaginative Education And Individual Education Plans (IEP’s) For Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder (2017) By Yearin Kim

Kim, Y. (2017). “Imaginative Education and Individual Education Plans (IEP’s) For Students With Autism Spectrum Disorder.” Unpublished MEd Action Research Project, Simon Fraser University.

Imaginative Ecological Education

Imaginative Education and Professional Development

The Art Of The Teacher: A Hermeneutic Self-Evaluation Of A Polish-Canadian “Imaginative Education” Graduate At Simon Fraser University (2012) By Karolina Barski

Barski, K. (2012). “The Art Of The Teacher: A Hermeneutic Self-Evaluation Of A Polish-Canadian ‘Imaginative Education’ Graduate At Simon Fraser University.” Unpublished MEd Action Research Project, Simon Fraser University.

The Mighty Mole–A Love Story: Enlisting Learners’ Emotions In The Quest For Understanding (2011) By Judy Dabideen-Sonachansingh

Dabideen-Sonachansingh, J. (2011). “The Mighty Mole–A Love Story: Enlisting Learners’ Emotions In The Quest For Understanding.” Unpublished MEd Action Research Project, Simon Fraser University.

Finding Time For Professional Development (2011) by Christa Rawlings

Rawlings, C. (2011). “Finding Time For Professional Development.” Unpublished MEd Action Research Project, Simon Fraser University.

Integrating the Cognitive Tools: What are the Effects? (2018) by Rita Shahi

Shahi, R. (2018). “Integrating the Cognitive Tools: What are the Effects?” Unpublished MEd Action Research Project, Simon Fraser University.

Literacy

Unstructured Literacy Play: The Use Of Independent Literacy Stations Based On Imaginative Cognitive Tools To Help Early Intermediate Students Develop Their Voices As Writers (2017) By Leone Payson

Payson, L. (2017). “Unstructured Literacy Play: The Use Of Independent Literacy Stations Based On Imaginative Cognitive Tools To Help Early Intermediate Students Develop Their Voices As Writers.” Unpublished MEd Action Research Project, Simon Fraser University.

Poetry And Prejudice: Literature As AntiRacist Education In An All-White School (2014) By Marlene Roseboom

Roseboom, M. (2014). “Poetry And Prejudice: Literature As AntiRacist Education In An All-White School.” Unpublished MEd Action Research Project, Simon Fraser University.

Literacy 2.0: Blogging To Develop Written Fluency In First Grade (2014) By Lindsay Zebrowski

Zebrowski, L. (2014).”Literacy 2.0: Blogging To Develop Written Fluency In First Grade.” Unpublished MEd Action Research Project, Simon Fraser University.

LiD Projects

Encouraging Independence During Learning In Depth Sessions To Allow For Individual Conferencing (2014) By Kavita Hoonjan

Hoonjan, K. (2014). “Encouraging Independence During Learning In Depth Sessions To Allow For Individual Conferencing.” Unpublished MEd Action Research Project, Simon Fraser University.

Learning In Depth: The Teacher’s Role (2017) By Ryan Hughes

Hughes, R. (2017). “Learning In Depth: The Teacher’s Role.” Unpublished MEd Action Research Project, Simon Fraser University.

Using A Project Approach To Enhance Learning In Depth (2017) By Clayton Stephens

Stephens, C. (2017). “Using A Project Approach To Enhance Learning In Depth.” Unpublished MEd Action Research Project, Simon Fraser University.

Student Engagement: Experiencing The Joy Of Learning Through Learning In Depth (2014) By Terri Zolob

Zolob, T. (2014). “Student Engagement: Experiencing The Joy Of Learning Through Learning In Depth.” Unpublished MEd Action Research Project, Simon Fraser University.

Mathematics

Problems Of The Week (Secondary Math) (2017) By Carley Brockway

Brockway, C. (2017). “Problems of The Week (Secondary Math).” Unpublished MEd Action Research Project, Simon Fraser University.

Making Math Meaningful: Increasing Student Engagement in Math Through an Imaginative Education Approach (2019) By Danielle Murdoch

Murdoch, D. (2019). “Making Math Meaningful: Increasing Student Engagement in math Through an Imaginative Education Approach.” Unpublished MEd Action Research Project, Simon Fraser University.

Math Talk: Using An Oral Language Approach To Teach Time (2015) By Debbie Stapleton

Stapleton, D. (2015). “Math Talk: Using An Oral Language Approach To Teach Time.” Unpublished MEd Action Research Project, Simon Fraser University.

Metaphor

Teaching Social Media Through Metaphor (2014) By Colin Morris

Morris, C. (2014). “Teaching Social Media Through Metaphor.” Unpublished MEd Action Research Project, Simon Fraser University.

Constructing Credos Using Metaphor (2014) By Hannah Myles

Myles, H. (2014). “Constructing Credos Using Metaphor.” Unpublished MEd Action Research Project, Simon Fraser University.

Music

Science

Social Emotional Learning and Care

Overcoming Anxiety With The Cognitive Tools Of Imaginative Education And The Big Six Of Historical Thinking In An Alternative Social Studies Classroom (2017) By Marc Maretic

Maretic, M. (2017). “Overcoming Anxiety With The Cognitive Tools Of Imaginative Education And The Big Six Of Historical Thinking In An Alternative Social Studies Classroom.” Unpublished MEd Action Research Project, Simon Fraser University.

Storytelling