Peter Arthur

Professor of Teaching

Education

Office: EME 3149
Phone: 250-807-9207
Email: peter.arthur@ubc.ca

Research Summary

Teaching and learning in higher education; self-regulated learning; metacognition; student agency; mindsets and academic success; curriculum and program development; instructional design; Scholarship of Teaching and Learning; learning technologies; responsible and ethical uses of generative AI in teaching, learning, assessment, and research.

Courses & Teaching

Graduate-level courses include teaching in higher education, instructional design, educational technology leadership, and generative AI in education. Bachelor of Education teaching focuses on curriculum design, assessment, instructional strategies, learning technologies, reflective inquiry, metacognition, self-regulated learning, and student success.

Biography

Dr. Peter Arthur is a Professor of Teaching in the Okanagan School of Education at the University of British Columbia Okanagan. His work focuses on teaching and learning in higher education, curriculum and program development, self-regulated learning, metacognition, student success, learning technologies, and the responsible use of generative AI in educational contexts.

From 2005 to 2015, Dr. Arthur served as the Founding Director of UBC Okanagan’s Centre for Teaching and Learning. In that role, he led the development of a campus-wide teaching and learning centre dedicated to advancing teaching excellence, pedagogical innovation, learning technology, faculty development, teaching assistant support, and the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. His leadership helped build an evidence-informed teaching and learning culture at UBC Okanagan.

Dr. Arthur has also provided extensive academic leadership through UBC Okanagan Senate and university governance. He has served as an elected UBC Okanagan Senator since the inaugural Senate in 2005 and has chaired several Senate committees, including the Senate Learning and Research Committee, Senate Curriculum Committee, Senate Agenda Committee, and Senate Academic Buildings and Resources Committee. His work has focused on curriculum quality, academic program review, institutional policy, teaching evaluation, and academic decision-making.

His recent scholarly and educational leadership work examines how students and instructors make informed, ethical, and learning-centred decisions about generative AI. Through an international collaboration with the Centre for Change and Complexity in Learning, he has studied the relationship between students’ self-regulated learning skills and their acceptance and use of generative AI. This work informs his teaching, research, and faculty development on student agency, academic integrity, assessment, and AI-supported learning.

Dr. Arthur’s teaching and educational leadership have been recognized through the UBC Killam Teaching Prize, UBC Okanagan Outstanding Instructor Award, UBC Okanagan Teaching Fellow recognition, five Golden Apple / Dr. Claire Budgen Golden Apple Teaching Awards, and three placements on the UBC Okanagan Teaching Honour Roll.

Websites

Scholarly Learning
Research-informed resources for undergraduate and graduate student success. Structured tools supporting focus, planning, reflection, metacognition, self-regulated learning, and meaningful academic progress.
ScholarlyLearning.org

Think First
A workbook helping students take ownership of studying, assignments, exams, and learning with AI.
LearningOwnership.com/ThinkFirst

The Graduate: Fall 2026
A 122-day guided journal supporting structure, focus, reflection, and research progress across the fall term.
ScholarlyLearning.org

Degrees

Bachelor of Education, University of Saskatchewan
Master of Education, University of Saskatchewan
PhD, University of British Columbia, Vancouver

Research Interests & Projects

Learning Ownership in the Age of AI
Dr. Arthur’s current work examines how students develop the metacognitive, motivational, and self-regulated learning capacities needed to succeed in increasingly complex academic environments. This work focuses on how students plan, monitor, adapt, recover, use feedback, and make responsible decisions about when and how to use generative AI.

Generative AI, Self-Regulated Learning, and Student Agency
Through an international collaboration with the Centre for Change and Complexity in Learning, Dr. Arthur is investigating the relationship between students’ self-regulated learning skills and their acceptance and use of generative AI. This work also examines how pre-service teachers use generative AI during their professional preparation and practicum experiences.

Curriculum and Program Development
Dr. Arthur has led and supported curriculum and program development at UBC Okanagan and with external institutions. His work emphasizes constructive alignment, curriculum coherence, assessment design, quality assurance, inclusive teaching practices, and collaborative program development.

Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
Dr. Arthur supports faculty and graduate students in developing scholarly inquiry projects related to teaching and learning. He has designed and facilitated SoTL workshops, institutes, and short courses, including Igniting Inquiry: Developing a Scholarly Inquiry Project at UBC Okanagan.

Student Success, Metacognition, and Mindsets
Dr. Arthur’s long-standing research and educational development work focuses on metacognition, self-regulated learning, growth mindset, academic resilience, and student success. He has designed curricular interventions and student-facing workshops that help learners become more strategic, reflective, and independent.

Selected Publications & Presentations

Selected Publications

Mirriahi, N., Marrone, R., Barthakur, A., Gabriel, F., Colton, J., Yeung, T. N., Arthur, P., & Kovanović, V. (2025). The relationship between students’ self-regulated learning skills and technology acceptance of GenAI. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 41(2), 16–33. https://doi.org/10.14742/ajet.10006

Arthur, P. (2026). The Graduate: Summer 2026. ScholarlyLearning.org.

Selected Invited Presentations

Arthur, P. (2026). Designing a focused summer: A 50-minute planning workshop for research students. Invited workshop, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.

Arthur, P. (2025). Designing your most productive summer: Strategies for graduate student success. Invited workshop, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.

Arthur, P. (2025). Igniting Inquiry: Developing a Scholarly Inquiry Project. Invited SoTL short course for faculty and graduate students, UBC Okanagan.

Arthur, P. (2024). Building a scholarly inquiry project. Invited seminar, Centre for Change and Complexity in Learning, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia.

Arthur, P. (2024). Enhancing student metacognition and growth mindset for success. Invited presentation, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia.

Arthur, P. (2024). Developing student strategic learning. Invited presentation, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia.

Arthur, P., Lovett, M., Moosvi, F., & Stewart, S. (2024). Crafting excellence in scholarly teaching and SoTL inquiry: Engaging with scholars. Higher Education Research Network Showcase, University of South Australia.

Arthur, P. (2024). Collaborative integration of generative AI: Empowering pre-service teachers for ethical education. ABCDE Teacher Education Program Roundtable, Kelowna, Canada.

Arthur, P. (2018). Keynote: Enhancing metacognition, grit, and growth mindset for student success. St. Petersburg College Teaching and Learning Conference, Clearwater, United States.

Arthur, P. (2017). Keynote: Enhancing metacognition, grit, and growth mindset as keys to retention. Center for Higher Education Retention Excellence Conference, New Haven, United States.

Arthur, P. (2017). Public seminar: Enhancing metacognition, grit, and growth mindset for student success. Institute for Teaching and Learning Innovation, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.

Arthur, P. (2017). Enhancing metacognition, grit, and growth mindset for student success. University of California Irvine, Center for Engaged Instruction, Irvine, United States.

Arthur, P. (2017). Curriculum design/redesign institute. University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.

Arthur, P. (2017). Enhancing metacognition, grit, and growth mindset for student success. Centre for Learning and Research in Higher Education, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.

Arthur, P. (2017). Keynote: Five strategies for academic and life success. Yukon College, Whitehorse, Canada.

Conference Presentations

Arthur, P. (2018). Integrating creative and critical thinking into your course. Festival of Learning, Vancouver, Canada.

Arthur, P. (2017). Enhancing metacognition, grit, and growth mindset for student success. Evidence-Based Teaching and Learning Lilly Conference, Anaheim, United States.

Arthur, P. (2017). Enhancing metacognition, grit, and growth mindset for student success. 36th Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience, Atlanta, United States.

Arthur, P. (2016). Enhancing metacognition, grit, and growth mindset for student success. 23rd National Conference on Students in Transition, New Orleans, United States.

Arthur, P. (2016). Examining how transitioning students are using technology to learn. 23rd National Conference on Students in Transition, New Orleans, United States.

Arthur, P., Hunt, G., Chu, S., & Knaack, L. (2015). Leadership to advance scholarly teaching at post-secondary institutions. Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, Vancouver, Canada.

Arthur, P. (2014). Integrating metacognitive strategies into the curriculum to support students in becoming self-directed learners. International Conference on Improving University Teaching, Vancouver, Canada.

Arthur, P. (2011). An examination of how students create learning networks and leverage digital content to enhance learning. International Conference on Education and New Learning Technologies, Barcelona, Spain.

Arthur, P. (2010). Enhancing the online scholarly research environment: Evaluating the tools. International Conference on E-Learning, Penang, Malaysia.

Selected Grants & Awards

Fellowships

2024 – Visiting Fellow – The Centre for Change and Complexity in Learning, University of South Australia (March-April 2024)

2024 – UBC Okanagan Teaching Fellow – July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025

2023 – UBC Okanagan Teaching Fellow – July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024

2019 – Visiting Scholar – Center for Health Education Scholarship (May 2019)

2018 – Senior Scholarly Teaching Fellow – BCCampus (February 2018 – July 2019)

2017 – Visiting Fellow – Institute for Teaching and Learning Innovation, University of Queensland (March – May 2017)

Awards

2026 Dr. Clair Budgen Golden Apple Award VOICE Campus Health Project

2025 Dr. Clair Budgen Golden Apple Award, VOICE Campus Health Project

2024/2025 UBC Okanagan Outstanding Instructor

2024 Dr. Clair Budgen Golden Apple Award, VOICE Campus Health Project

2023 Killam Teaching Prize  – Video

2023 Golden Apple Award, VOICE Campus Health Project

2020 Golden Apple Award, VOICE Campus Health Project

2009-2010 UBC Okanagan Teaching Honour Roll

2008-2009 UBC Okanagan Teaching Honour Roll

2007-2008 UBC Okanagan Teaching Honour Roll

2003 British Columbia Innovation Award in Educational Technology, Centre for Curriculum, Transfer and Technology

Professional Services/Affiliations/Committees

Elected UBC Okanagan Senator, 2005–present.

Chair, Senate Academic Buildings and Resources Committee, 2020–present.

Chair, Senate Budget Committee, 2020–present.

Chair, Senate Curriculum Committee, 2014–2020; Vice-Chair, current.

Chair, Senate Learning and Research Committee, 2005–2017.

Chair, Senate Agenda Committee, 2017–2020.

Elected Chair, Okanagan Faculty Committee, University of British Columbia Faculty Association, 2023–present.

Member, UBC Faculty Association Bargaining Preparation Committee 2022 and 2024

Founding Director, Centre for Teaching and Learning, UBC Okanagan, 2005–2015.

Director, Professional Programs and Summer Institute, Okanagan School of Education, 2019–2023.

BCcampus Advisory Committee, 2017–2022.

Founding Past-President, British Columbia Teaching and Learning Council, 2014–2016.

Media

Radio Interview: Generative AI and Student Learning
Interview on whether generative AI helps university students learn smarter or faster. Broadcast through the Corus radio network.

Seminar Recording: Enhancing Metacognition, Growth Mindset, and Grit for Student Success
University of Texas at Austin Faculty Innovation Center seminar focused on learning strategies, metacognition, growth mindset, and student success.
View University of Texas at Austin seminar recording

Podcast Interview: Critical Thinking and Metacognition
Interview with the Critical Thinking Initiative on the relationship between critical thinking, metacognition, and student learning.

BCcampus Interview: Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
Interview on developing scholarly teaching and SoTL in post-secondary education.