Assistant Professor
Faculty of Education
University of New Brunswick
P.O. Box 4400
Fredericton, NB Canada
E3B 5A3

Tel: (506) 458-7187
Fax: (506) 453-3569
Marshall d'Avray Hall, rm. 203
plp@unb.ca

Patti Peterson teaches in the Educational Psychology program with a focus on learning exceptionalities, special education, inclusive education systems, assessment, and at-risk children and youth.  She is an appointee to the Premier’s Council on the Status of Disabled Persons, President of the New Brunswick Learning Disabilities Association, charter member of the Canadian Consortium of Universities for Evaluation Education, and she serves on several provincial and national committees related to exceptionalities and educational psychology.

Patti is Co-Executive Director of UNB’s Health and Education Research Group (HERG).  Current research and practice interests include positive psychology and strength-based approaches, universal instructional design, learning disabilities and exceptionalities, autism spectrum disorder, and teacher preparedness for inclusive education systems.  Her doctoral dissertation (Ed.D., Boston University), entitled Integrating technology into a fully inclusive education system: Evaluating a provincial teacher laptop initiative, examined New Brunswick’s provision of technology and IT support to enhance teaching and differentiation activities in inclusive classrooms province-wide.  The study involved qualitative interviews and focus groups at 88 schools, as well as statistical analysis of survey responses from over 2,800 New Brunswick teachers.

Courses taught include:   

• ED 5035, Inclusionary Practices
• ED 6016, Introduction to Learning Exceptionalities
• ED 6062, Advanced Resource Methods
• ED 6063, Advanced Academic Assessment
• ED 6055, Academic Assessment
• ED 6056, Design and Evaluation of Special Education Programs
• MPHI 6204, Policy Studies, Research Field Seminars
• MPHI 6031, Interdisciplinary Research Methods
• UNB CEL Autism Intervention Training, Applied Behavioural Analysis

Selected Papers and Presentations

Morrison, W. & Kirby, P. (2009). Overview of a school-wide SMART Board technology implementation: Implications for post-secondary teacher training programs.  Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education: Between the Tides. International conference at the University of New Brunswick, June 17 – 20, 2009.

Kirby, P. & Morrison, W. (2009). Knowledge Translation: Definitions, Challenges and Innovative Methods. Colloquium on Research, Policy and Practice in Education, University of New Brunswick.

Morrison, W. & Kirby, P. (2009). The Impact of Positive Psychology and Strength-Based Approaches on School Health.  Journal of the Canadian Association of Principals (refereed - in press, January 2009).

Kirby, P. & Morrison, W. (2009). Keynote address, Focus on Solutions: Fostering Psychological Wellness for Individuals with Learning Disabilities.  Fifth Annual Conference of the NB Learning Disabilities Association.

Kirby, P. (2009).  Keynote address, Supporting Students with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.  Symposium for NB Teacher Assistants, Department of Education, February 12, 2009.

Morrison, W. & Kirby, P. (2008). Investigating Positive Psychology Themes in Mental Health: A Scan and Analysis of Provincial/Territorial Education Department Websites.  Report commissioned by the National Joint Consortium on School Health and the British Columbia Ministry of Education, November 2008.

Kirby, P. (2008).  Positive psychology as an approach to tobacco cessation in schools.  Presentation to New Brunswick Anti-Tobacco Coalition, Moncton, November 2008.

Kirby, P. (2008). Integrating technology into a fully inclusive education system: Evaluating a provincial teacher laptop initiative.  Doctoral Dissertation, Boston University.

Morrison, W. & Kirby, P. (2008). Applying SMART Board technology in elementary school classrooms:  Investigation of a school-wide initiative.  NB Department of Education commissioned report.

Kirby, P. (2008).  Adversity, advocacy and accessibility in post-secondary institutions.  Presented to the Canadian National Learning Commons Conference, June 2008.

Kirby, P. (2008).  Mental health issues in individuals with learning disabilities.  Keynote speaker at the annual conference of the NB Literacy Coalition, Mount Allison University, January 2008.

Morrison, W., Kirby, P. & Allain, M. (2007). Knowledge Translation and University Graduate Research Policies. Commissioned report for the National Collaborating Centre of the Determinants of Health. Antigonish, NS.

Kirby, P. (2007). Transition to Post-Secondary Education and Employment for Students with Multi-sensory Impairment.  Deafblind International (DBI) World Conference, Worldwide Connections – Breaking the Isolation, Perth, Australia, September 2007.  (Paper published as part of refereed conference proceedings in DBI Review, January – June 2008).

Kirby, P. & Morrison, W. (2007). NB Department of Education Teacher Notebook Initiative – Evaluation Report.  NB Department of Education commissioned report.

Kirby, P. (2007). University accessibility for students with visual impairment.  Atlantic Provinces Special Education Authority (APSEA) presentation, Halifax, NS, February 13, 2007.

Kirby, P. (2006-07). Principles of Universal Instructional Design.  Presentation at the Kaleidoscope Teaching Showcase, Centre for Enhanced Teaching and Learning, University of New Brunswick.  December 2006, and December 2007.

Kirby, P. (2006). Making connections; dispelling the myths.  Presentation to NB Career Development Action Group annual conference, Saint John, NB. November 30, 2006.

Kirby, P. & Roberts, B. (2006). Our duty to accommodate students with disabilities: How far do we go? How do we know? Co-facilitated session at conference for National Association of Academic Vice-Presidents (NATVAC), Delta Hotel, Fredericton, NB. October 12, 2006.

Kirby, P. (2006). Advocacy: The right voice to the right ear.  Conference presentation to the New Brunswick Schizophrenia Society’s Public Awareness Event.  Dr. Everett Chalmers Hospital, Fredericton, NB, October 2, 2006.

Kirby. P. & Howard, J. (2006). STEP: Supporting the transition to employment for university students with disabilities.  Presentation to CACUSS (Canadian Association of College and University Student Services), Annual Conference, McMaster University, Hamilton ON, June 17-21, 2006.

Kirby, P. & Howard, J. (2006). STEP: Supporting the transition to employment for university students with disabilities.  Presentation to AACUSS (Atlantic Association of College and University Student Services), Annual Conference, Cape Breton University, Sydney NS, June 4-7, 2006.

Kirby, P. (2006). STEP Goes Tech: Successful Transition to Employment Program (STEP) for students with disabilities.  Organized and moderated conference on assistive technology at the National Research Council, February 23, 2006. 

Kirby, Patricia. (2005). Office of Services for Students with Disabilities: Policies and Procedures.  Submitted to University of New Brunswick administration.

Kirby, Patricia. (2005). The child behind the fence:  The vulnerability of the isolated child.  Paper presented at the Child and Youth Conference, Child and Youth Care Association of New Brunswick, May 2005.

Kirby, Patricia. (2004). Research and the child:  Vulnerability as a social construction.  Paper presented at the Symposium on Research Ethics, School of Graduate Studies, UNB, December 2004.

Kirby, Patricia. (2004). An examination of the social experiences of individuals with Asperger Syndrome.  Masters thesis, University of New Brunswick, January 2004.