Sharon Friesen

Dr. Sharon Friesen

PhD
Pronouns: she/her

Positions

Professor

Werklund School of Education, Specialization, Leadership

Contact information

Email

sfriesen@ucalgary.ca

Web presence

Twitter

Galileo

Phone number

Office: 403.220.2488

Location

Office: EDT936

Background

Credentials

Permanent Professional Teaching Certificate, Alberta Education, 1989

Permanent ECS Diploma, Alberta Education, 1986

Educational Background

Doctor of Philosophy Curriculum Theory, University of Calgary, 2000

M.Ed. Curriculum, University of Calgary, 1991

Bach of Education University of Calgary, 1986

Biography

Dr. Sharon Friesen is a professor at the Werklund School of Education at the University of Calgary.  She was the co-founder and President of the Galileo Educational Network from 1999-2021. She served as the Vice Dean of the Werklund School of Education for 8 years, as well as the Associate Dean Graduate Programs in Education, and the Associate Dean of Professional and Community Engagement. Her research interests include the ways in which K-12 educational structures, leadership, teaching, and learning need to be redesigned. This redesign involves reframing the current standardized system into one that acknowledges the strengths and needs of an increasingly diverse society and one that honours and respects First Nations, Metis, and Inuit ways of being and knowing. She draws upon and contributes to the fields of the learning sciences and educational leadership to study: (i) design-based professional learning, (ii) school and district leadership, (iii) educational reform, and (iv) research-practice partnerships. She has co-authored six books. From the outset, she has systematically created, studied and published first from within her own classrooms (K – graduate students) and for more than 20 years from within the work of the Galileo Educational Network. 

Professional & Community Affiliations

Service and leadership are a significant part of Dr. Friesen's academic life. While service and leadership are part of the obligations all academics must provide to sustain a research culture within a research university, the lines between research and scholarship, teaching and learning, and service and leadership tend to blur in her research and writing.

In 1999, Dr. Friesen co-founded Galileo Educational Network (http://www.galileo.org) in the Werklund School of Education at the University of Calgary.  This provincial, national, and international network was built with the understanding that changes in education needed to be systemic and sustained, and that all educational stakeholders needed to be involved in growing the changes that were required for contemporary learning environments.

Dr. Friesen is honoured to have served the Werklund School of Education as Vice Dean, Associate Dean Graduate Programs in Education, and Associate Dean Professional and Community Engagement.  

Dr. Friesen continues to offers her expertise to a variety of government and non-government organizations across Canada and internationally. 

Research

Areas of Research

Contemporary Learning Environments, Design-based Professional Learning, Educational Leadership, Research-Practice Partnerships, Educational Reform
  1. PI. Mapping a Community Response Model to Mental Health, Community Safety, and Wellbeing (with Sharon Friesen (PI), Stephen MacGregor (Co-PI), Jennifer Turner (Co-PI), Kate Storey (Co-Applicant), Joelle Rodway (Co-Applicant), Kevin Cameron (Collaborator), Lori Prediger (Collaborator), Stephanie Mills (Collaborator), George Alvarez (Collaborator). Funded by Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation – One Child. 
  2. PI. Development of a Mental Health Implementation and Evaluation Framework for Schools and School Authorities (with Sharon Friesen (PI), Stephen McGregor (Co-PI), Dennis Sumara (Co-Investigator), Carly McMorris (Collaborator), and José Domene (Collaborator). Funded by Alberta Education. 
  3. PI. Change Can’t Wait (with Sharon Friesen (PI), Paul Arnold (Co-PI, Jennifer Turner, Co-PI, Gena Rotstein, Collaborator). Funded by Converge Mental Health Coalition Inc.
  4. CO-PI. Online supervision of doctoral students. This case study focuses on professors’ and doctoral students’ experiences with online supervision relationships in the context of field-focused, doctoral research as part of a blended education doctorate (EdD) program in the Werklund School of Education.
  5. Collaborator. An exploration of the Systems and Societal Norms that Contribute to the Marginalization of Youth. SSHRC

Many of the studies Dr. Friesen undertakes are longitudinal, employing design-based research methodologies. Currently she is focused on the role that students' mental health and well-being play in students' overall success in schools. Students' social-emotional health and well-being have traditionally been treated as an add-on to students' academic achievement. As surfaced in her 2009 What Did You Do in School Today study with Doug Willms and Penny Milton, student well-being played a signifant role in students' overall success in schools. Students' mental health, particularly anxiety and depression surfaced as requiring attention in Canadian schools as early as 2009 in that research. Today, it is a pressing issue needing teachers, school and district leaders, and provincial leaders attention and action. 

Dr. Friesen's body of research encompasses several key themes: innovative pedagogies and inquiry-based learning, educational leadership and systemic change, design-based professional learning, and the integration of technology in education. Her research often transcends these boundaries, reflecting the interconnected nature of these themes.

Innovative Pedagogies and Inquiry-Based Learning

Dr. Friesen has extensively explored inquiry-based learning, emphasizing student engagement through exploration and critical thinking. Her publication "Focus on Inquiry" provides a comprehensive guide for educators to implement this approach effectively.

Educational Leadership and Systemic Change

She has examined the role of leadership in educational reform, highlighting the necessity for systemic changes to support innovative teaching practices. Her work underscores the importance of leadership in fostering environments conducive to contemporary learning. 

Design-Based Professional Learning

Dr. Friesen emphasizes the significance of design-based professional learning for educators, promoting iterative, collaborative approaches to professional development that align with the evolving educational landscape. 

Integration of Technology in Education

She investigates the role of technology in enhancing learning environments, advocating for its thoughtful integration to support participatory and engaging educational experiences. 

Many of Dr. Friesen's publications intersect these categories, reflecting the interconnected nature of her research. For instance, her work on inquiry-based learning often involves elements of educational leadership and the integration of technology, demonstrating how these themes collectively contribute to transforming K-12 education.

Participation in university strategic initiatives

Child health and wellness

Human dynamics in a changing world

Courses

Course number Course title Semester
EDUC 556.02 SEC 02 S02 Professional Development and Lifelong Learning Winter 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
EDER 619.22 Leading Student Learning Summer 2021
EDER 719.14 Advanced Studies in Educational Leadership Summer 2021, 2023
EDER 708 Collaboratory of Practice II Winter 2021, 2022, 2023
EDUC 521 Designs for Learning Fall 2023
EDER 678.21 Design-Based Professional Learning Spring 2024
EDER 678.70 Leading Citizenry in a Digital Age Spring 2024
EDER 705 Doctoral Seminar in Educational Leadership Summer 2022
EDER 719.14 Advanced Studies in Educational Leadership Summer 2021, 2023

Awards

  • Research on Teacher Education, Canadian Association for Teacher Education. 2023
  • ARCH Award Career Achievement University of Calgary Alumni, University of Calgary. 2021
  • Outstanding Graduate Supervision Award, Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary. 2021
  • Leadership in Education Award, Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary. 2013
  • Distinguished Lecturer, Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary. 2011
  • Distinguished Research Lecture Award, Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary. 2011
  • U Make a Difference Award, University of Calgary. 2011
  • Nominated: Student's Union Teaching Excellence Award, University of Calgary Student' Association. 2010
  • Calgary Educational Partnership Foundation Special Settings Award, 2009
  • The Calgary Stampede Western Legacy Award for Innovation, Calgary Stampede. 2009
  • Teaching Excellence Nomination, Werklund School of Education. 2008
  • Teaching Excellence Nomination - Graduate Students, University of Calgary Students Association. 2008
  • Calgary Stampede Innovation Award, Calgary Stampede. 2007
  • Mathematics Educator Award for activism in improving mathematics education across western Canada., University of British Columbia. 2007
  • Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences Education prize, Pacific Institute of the Mathematical Sciences. 2007
  • 2006 AERA Division B Outstanding Book Award for Back to the Basics of Teaching and Learning, 2006
  • AERA Division B Outstanding Book award, 2005
  • Canadian E-Content Award for Education, 2004
  • Conference Board of Canada Partnership National Partnerships Award, 2000
  • Prime Minister's Award for Teaching Excellence, 1999
  • Prime Minister's Award for Teaching Excellence, 1999
  • The Alberta Teachers' Association Research Award, 1999
  • Aoki Award for research work in the area of curriculum that most embraced the work and vision of Dr. Ted Aoki, 1997
  • ASCD - Celebrating Educational Success in Alberta, 1996
  • Awarded, Teacher Explorer Centre in Robotics, 1995
  • National Institute Award - Nortel, 1995
  • Nomination, Alberta Excellence in Teaching Award, 1992

Publications

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