Monthly Archives: February 2025

Optimizing Research Strategies Using UBC Library Resources by Emily Fornwald

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Summary of SyMETRI Meeting: February 18th, 2025 by Qiaochu Xu
Presenter/Guest Speaker: Emily Fornwald, librarian from the University of British Columbia
Date: February 18th, 2025
Host: Dr. Cynthia Nicol

On February 18, 2025, SyMETRI hosted a workshop led by Emily Fornwald, a librarian at the University of British Columbia, on optimizing research strategies using UBC Library resources. The session focused on enhancing the effectiveness of literature reviews and utilizing research tools to support academic inquiry.

Emily provided an overview of various types of literature reviews, guiding participants in selecting the most appropriate approach for their research in education. She demonstrated effective strategies for locating scholarly literature through key databases such as ERIC and Education Source, both of which are widely used in educational research. Additionally, she discussed best practices for integrating Google Scholar with UBC Library’s resources to identify and access the most relevant references. The session also highlighted the range of research tools and services available through UBC Library to facilitate academic work.

During the Q&A session, SyMETRI members engaged in discussions on common challenges in conducting literature reviews. Topics included strategies for mitigating selection bias in sourcing research materials, determining the most suitable literature review methodology for a given study, and leveraging citation management tools such as Covidence, Zotero, and Mendeley for organizing, storing, and citing research articles.

The workshop provided valuable insights into optimizing literature review processes and improving research efficiency. Participants were encouraged to further explore UBC Library’s resources and seek additional support as needed.

For further inquiries, Emily Fornwald can be reached via email at emily.fornwald@ubc.ca or ed.lib@ubc.ca. To book a consultation, visit libcal.library.ubc.ca/appointments/edlib.

Presentation Slides_UBC Library & STEM Education Research

 

Exploring Mathematics Through the Eyes of Immigrant Students

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Summary of SyMETRI Meeting: January 28th, 2025 by Qiaochu Xu
Presenter/Guest Speaker: Malihe Manzouri, from Department of Curriculum and Pedagogy, Faculty of Education, University of British Columbia
Date: January 28th, 2025
Host: Dr. Cynthia Nicol

At the SyMETRI meeting on January 28, 2025, Malihe Manzouri leads SyMETRI members through a series of exercises designed to reveal the challenges immigrant students encounter in math classrooms. Using Farsi-style numerals, questions written in an unfamiliar language, and problems that common translation tools struggle to interpret, participants gain firsthand insight into the linguistic barriers that can affect students’ mathematical understanding.

These activities allow teachers to step into the shoes of immigrant students, helping them recognize the importance of inclusive instructional strategies. The workshop offers insights for supporting multilingual learners, ensuring that all students—regardless of their language background—can engage meaningfully with mathematics. SyMETRI members leave with a deeper understanding of how language barriers and mathematical number writing systems create additional challenges for immigrant students, particularly as they navigate solving math problems in a new language and educational setting.

Here are some slides from Malihe’s presentation:

 

Bio

Malihe Manzouri is an educator and researcher passionate about mathematics education. She holds a master’s degree in mathematics education from the University of British Columbia (UBC) and a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the National University of Malaysia. Currently, she is pursuing her PhD in the Department of Curriculum and Pedagogy at UBC, focusing on the mathematical learning experiences of immigrant students in Canada.

With extensive teaching and mentoring experience in diverse educational settings—including universities, schools, and her own academic consulting company, Coherent Consulting Corp.—Malihe strives to create inclusive and equitable learning opportunities for students. Her unique academic journey, transitioning from engineering to education, allows her to bridge technical and social perspectives in her research and teaching.