Research
As well as remaining dedicated to excellence in personalized writing instruction, our team actively contributes original and data-informed research to scholarly conversations in Writing Studies and pedagogy more broadly. We are especially invested in expanding conversations about students’ use of generative AI and its implications for writing instruction.
Dr. Michael Cournoyea and Dr. Boba Samuels speaking at the 2025 Symposium on Generative AI in Health Sciences Writing & Assessment
Generative AI Pedagogy & Research
In the wake of rapid advancements in generative AI, writing centres continue to uphold a human-centric approach to personalized education that emphasizes personal engagement, critical thinking, and tailored learning. While generative AI has become indispensable for some students seeking writing support, the HSWC aims to create an empathetic and dialogic learning environment that cannot (yet) be technologically replicated.
Among UofT writing centres, the HSWC stands out for tackling generative AI head-on. In the 2024–2025 academic year, we began (1) collecting informal data on students’ use of generative AI for their writing; (2) developing programming on generative AI literacy; and (3) contributing to scholarly conversations through research and conference presentations.
Research Grants
Understanding Graduate Student Writing Instructors Interactions with GenAI
Sarah Seeley & Michael Cournoyea
[May 2025 – April 2026 timeline]
Institutional Research Grant
Institute for the Study of University Pedagogy
Conference Presentations
An "Exercise in Avoiding Red Flags": How Medical Students Approach CaRMS Personal Statements*
Michael Cournoyea & Boba Samuels
Canadian Association for the Study of Discourse and Writing (CASDW) Annual Conference. L'Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC. June 16, 2024.
Generative AI and Medical Personal Statements*
Michael Cournoyea, Boba Samuels, Faith Kurtyaka & Elliott Freeman (Panel presentation)
Teaching Writing in the Health Professions (WIHP) Conference. University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ (virtual). May 7, 2024.
Workshops & Symposia
Navigating Generative AI in Writing Centre Consultations: An Interactive Workshop*
Michael Cournoyea, Boba Samuels, Marvin Lam, Danielle Martak & Joel Benabu
Canadian Association for the Study of Discourse and Writing (CASDW) Annual Conference. George Brown College, Toronto, ON. May 31, 2025.
Symposium on Generative AI in Health Sciences Writing & Assessment
Michael Cournoyea & Boba Samuels
Funded by The University of Toronto Council of Health Sciences. University of Toronto, Toronto, ON. May 27, 2025.
*Indicates a refereed presentation