Gavan Watson

Ph.D., Environmental Education, York University
M.E.S., Environmental Studies, York University
Honours B.A.Sc., Family and Social Relations, University of Guelph

While in the role of Vice-Provost (Teaching and Learning), Dr. Watson’s capacity to supervise graduate students is limited. He remains open to mentoring students whose research aligns closely with his areas of expertise.

Gavan P.L. Watson is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education and the Vice-Provost (Teaching and Learning) at Queen’s University, where his work is dedicated to advancing teaching and learning in higher education. With a career deeply rooted in educational development within postsecondary institutions, Dr. Watson leads initiatives that enhance teaching and learning practices, promote innovative instructional strategies, and support faculty development through evidence-based approaches to student learning. In collaboration with academic leaders, he develops policies, fosters curricular innovation, and builds institutional support to strengthen teaching and learning across the University.

Dr. Watson’s research spans the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL), educational technology, and environmental education, with a focus on enhancing university-level teaching practices and student engagement. His work addresses key themes in postsecondary education, including instructional design, assessment, and technology integration. Dr. Watson’s environmental education research explores human-animal relationships and ethics within free-choice learning environments, drawing on discourses in environmental ethics, animal studies, and animal geography. This work examines how interactions with the more-than-human world shape humans’ understanding, values, and practices in informal educational settings.

As a frequent presenter and workshop leader, Dr. Watson addresses topics like ethical principles in university teaching, technology’s role in enhancing assessment, and strategies to improve faculty development in higher education.

Research Interests

• Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) 
• Higher Education
• Environmental Education
• Educational Technology
• Curriculum Design and Development
• Faculty Development and Academic Leadership

Selected Publications

Watson, G.P.L., & Eaton, S.E. (2023). AI tools don’t have to be the enemy of teaching and learning. University Affairs, 64(2), 52.

Godbout-Kinney, K., & Watson, G.P.L. (2022). Institutional approaches to evaluate teaching effectiveness: The role of summative peer review of teaching for promotion and tenure. Canadian Journal for Educational Administration and Policy, (201), 2-14.

Hundey, B., Anstey, L., Cruickshank, H., & Watson, G.P.L. (2020). Mentoring faculty online: a literature review and recommendations for web-based programs. International Journal for Academic Development, 25(3), 1-15.

Booth, R., Sinclair, B., McMurray, J., Strudwick, G., Watson, G.P.L., Ladak, H., et al. (2018). Evaluating a serious gaming electronic medication administration record (eMAR) system among nursing students: Study protocol for a pragmatic randomized controlled trial. JMIR Research Protocols, 7(5), e138.

To see further details about Dr. Watson’s published work, visit the following websites:
Gavan P.L. Watson - Google Scholar profile
Gavan P.L. Watson - ResarchGate profile