Dr. Michael Savage

Associate Professor (PhD), Department of Educational Studies
Program Director, Master of Education

Please contact for advisement availability

St. Catharines, ON
905 688 5550 x6183
msavage@brocku.ca

Dr. Savage has a diverse educational background that spans both education and clinical psychology. Michael spent five years teaching in the junior/intermediate division in Ontario public schools. Dr. Savage has also worked with children, adolescents and adults who struggled with mental health issues in a variety of settings including schools, residential treatment centers, college counseling centers, outpatient community mental health clinics, and inpatient hospital units in both Canada and the United States. His experiences as both an educator and licensed clinical psychologist (C. Psych) have not only shaped his pedagogy and teaching and learning philosophy but also his world view. He believes every student, no matter how great their challenges, has the potential to succeed in life.

Research Interests and Activities

  • Mental health and wellbeing in educational settings
  • Mental health challenges, learning disabilities and psychopathology among learners
  • Callous-Unemotional / Psychopathic Traits
  • Innovative classroom assessment and pedagogy
  • Sex work and sex workers in postsecondary settings
  • Designing and Using Innovative Curriculum as Intervention for Learning Disabilities and Disruptive Behaviour Disorders
  • Special Education Issues
  • 21st Century Classroom Assessment and Pedagogy

Professional Affiliations and Accreditation/Certification

Member of the following professional organizations:

  • American Psychological Association (APA)
  • Canadian Psychological Association (CPA)
  • Ontario Psychological Association (OPA)
  • American Educational Researchers Association (AERA)
  • Canadian Society of the Study of Education (CSSE)

Recent Publications

Woloshyn,V., & Savage, M. J. (In Press). Increasing teacher candidates’ mental health literacy and stress coping skills through an elective mental health and wellness course. International Journal of Inclusive Education. (Equal Contribution)

Woloshyn, V., & Savage, M. J. (In Press). Sharing narratives to foster mental health literacy in teacher candidates. Canadian Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. (Equal Contribution)

Savage, M. J., & Woloshyn, V. (2018). Creating safer schools through leading for wellness. Canadian Association for Principals (CAP) Journal, 118, 16-19. (Equal Contribution)

Woloshyn, V., Kaefer, T., Savage, M. J., & Ratkovic, S. (2017). Exploring research methodologies: Mapping the Canadian educational landscape as represented through two national journals. In S. Opic, B. Bognar, and S. Ratkovic (Eds.) New approaches to research methodology in education (pp. 223-266). Zagreb, Croatia: University of Zagreb Press. (Equal Contribution)

Savage, M. J., & DiBiase, A-M. (2016). Maladaptive personality and neuropsychological features of highly relationally aggressive adolescent girls. Brock Education, 26(1), 4-21. (Equal Contribution)

Savage, M. J., & Drake, S. M. (2016). Living transdisciplinary curriculum: Teachers’ experiences with the International Baccalaureate’s Primary Years Programme. International Electronic Journal of Elementary Education, 9(1), 22-41. (Equal Contribution)

Drake, S. M., & Savage, M. J. (2016). Negotiating accountability and integrated curriculum from a global perspective. International Journal of Learning, Teaching and Educational Research, 15(6), 127-144. (Equal Contribution)

Research and Project Funding

  • 2018 Brock SSHRC Institutional Grant – $5000
  • 2018 FOE R&D Fund – $1000
  • 2016 Brock SSHRC Institutional Grant – $5000
  • 2016 FOE GRAD Fund – $2000
  • 2016 FOE R&D Fund – $1000
  • 2014 FOE R&D Fund – $1000
  • 2014 International Baccalaureate Organization Grant – $35000 USD

Courses Taught

  • EDUC 4P17 Integrating Curriculum and Assessment – Primary/Junior
  • EDUC 4P18 Integrating Curriculum and Assessment – Junior/Intermediate
  • EDUC 4P19 Integrating Curriculum and Assessment – Intermediate/Senior
  • EDUC 4P27 21st Century Literacies Across the P/J Curriculum
  • EDUC 4P28 21st Century Literacies Across the J/I Curriculum
  • EDUC 4P29 21st Century Literacies Across the I/S Curriculum
  • EDUC 4P46 Mental Health and Wellness
  • EDUC 5P39 Understanding the Reading Process and Reading Difficulties
  • EDUC 5P42 Innovative Practices in Curriculum and Assessment
  • EDUC 5P45 Learning Problems in the Classroom: Diagnosis and Programming
  • EDUC 5P47 Emotional Lives of Children in the Classroom
  • EDUC 5P99 Introduction to Studies in Education
  • MPCE 6P11 Wellness in Canadian Higher Education