Dr. Heather Birch
Dr. Heather J. S. Birch
Director of the Bachelor of Education Program | Associate Professor of Education
Biography
Heather has experience teaching music, drama, dance, and visual art in elementary schools, leading teams where children design technologies for learning, and teaching educational technology and arts pedagogy to pre-service teachers. Her research focuses on inclusive teaching, cross-curricular integration of the arts, knowledge media design, and the use of digital technology in education. Dr. Birch also explores Christian teacher education, wellbeing in teacher education, and games for learning. Dr. Birch's work is recognized through various research grants and awards, and she actively contributes to professional organizations and committees dedicated to advancing educational initiatives, including research ethics, teacher education in Canada, and K-12 education in Ontario.
Faculty Publications
- Body mapping as a wellness practice for arts teachers (2025) (Chapter)
- Building a Theoretical Framework for Supporting Pre-service Teacher Leadership (2025) (Chapter)
- Cultivating inclusive classrooms: Faith expressions field trips for teacher candidates (2025) (Article)
- Diverse Stakeholders on Educational Technology Development Teams: Supporting Software Developers and Children (2023) (Article)
- Inviting music students to identify as content creators to encourage participation and learning (2023) (Article)
- Understanding Motivational Differences through the Lens of Gamification User Types (2023) (Article)
- Using a Mobile App to Create Relevant and Participatory Music Learning Spaces (2023) (Article)
- Canadian Students Should Have an Informed Personal Stance on Their National Anthem, “O Canada” (2022) (Article)
- Teacher Education at Tyndale: Faith-Based, Privately-Funded, Publicly Accountable (2022) (Chapter)
- Using a Motivational Typology to Understand and Respond to Disruptive Behaviour (2022) (Article)
- Music Learning in an Online Affinity Space: Using a Mobile Application to Create Interactions During Independent Musical Instrument Practice (2018) (Dissertation or Thesis)
- Potential of SoundCloud for mobile learning in music education: A pilot study (2017) (Article)
- Technical Exercise Practice: Can Piano Students be Motivated by Gamification? (2017) (Article)
- Feedback in Online Writing Communities: Effects on Adolescent Writers (2016) (Article)
- Rise of the Rhythm: Using gaming elements to engage and motivate music students (2014) (Article)
Academic Credentials
PhD, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto, 2018
MA, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto, 2013
BEd, University of Windsor, 1997
BA, University of Waterloo, 1995
BRS, Ontario Bible College, 1993
ARCT, Royal Conservatory of Music, Piano Performance, 1993
Areas of Specialization
Curriculum, Teaching and Learning, Arts Education