Introduction

Dear new members,

We are delighted to welcome you to the Inclusive Education Research Lab at Brock University. This orientation guide is designed to provide you with essential information about our lab, its mission, and how we operate. It complements the more general information and guidance provided in the Faculty of Education’s Handbook for Research Assistants and Supervisors, which you are also encouraged to read.

Our lab focuses on open educational practices, inclusive teaching, and ethical approaches to educational technologies. We firmly believe that higher education achieves its transformative potential when it ensures equitable access, supports inclusion, fosters belonging, and is designed for justice, especially for students and scholars from historically, persistently, or systemically marginalized groups.

Based at Brock University, we acknowledge that our institution is situated on the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe peoples, many of whom continue to live and work here today. This territory is covered by the Upper Canada Treaties and is within the land protected by the Dish with One Spoon Wampum Agreement. We recognize our responsibility to support decolonization, build relationships, and amplify the voices of Indigenous communities as we actively respond to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action.

As a member of our lab, you will be joining a dynamic team dedicated to addressing systemic racism within academic institutions and promoting inclusive practices in education. In our lab we encourage praxis in the Freireian sense of “reflection and action directed at the structures to be transformed^[1]” along with knowledge mobilization. Your contributions will be valuable in our collective efforts to create more equitable and accessible learning environments for all students.

This guide will help you understand our lab’s structure, policies, and expectations, ensuring a smooth integration into our research community. We encourage you to read it thoroughly and reach out to your lab supervisor or colleagues if you have any questions.

The Inclusive Education Research Lab was established with support from Brock University and has received funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. We look forward to the insights and perspectives you will bring to our work as we strive to make a positive impact in the field of education.

Welcome aboard, and we wish you a rewarding and enriching experience in the Inclusive Education Research Lab at Brock University.