Description of Podcast
Here, you will find the best podcasts from our “ACSA Insights” series along with our webinars to support curriculum implementation and masterclasses to help you on your educational research journey.
Details of our Biennial Conference and Biennial Symposium can be found below
Biennial Conference
We are delighted to host both an East and West coast conference in NSW and WA.
Members will receive a discount and tickets and available at a cost of $250 for early bird entry.
NSW: Sydney registration
NSW: Sydney registration
Curriculum Perspectives
Our latest CP edition is out now!
Special Issue: Feminisms and Curriculum Inquiry
The Executive Board
Dr Gavin Hays
Dr Helen Shiele
Jenene Rosser
Women in STEM
Wendy Bode
Wendy is a pioneer in STEM education and is specifically known for her development of one of three regional STEM projects delivered under the Queensland Virtual STEM Academy –in this virtual space it seeks to engage students who are disadvantaged by distance, socioeconomic background, Indigenous culture and gender, giving these students opportunities they would not have previously received.
Wendy’s approach to future challenges for her students is disrupting traditional teaching to build students’ enthusiasm for STEM and develop skills for participation in what she terms a regional “innovation ecosystem”
She is a proud recipient of the Australian Schools Fellowship Award where I met her through our fellowship, and as kindred STEM spirits we gravitated towards one another. I distinctly remember looking out over Taronga Zoo with a Kookaburra perching beside us whilst we watch the echidnas beneath us.
Professor Linda Hobbs
It is our pleasure to introduce Professor Linda Hobbs to ACSA Insights today. Since 2004 Linda has had a particular focus on research involving new insights and directions in STEM education.
A large body of her work has looked into Professional Leaning and building the capacity of pre service teachers. Linda is also known as an eminent voice on the research of Out of Field teachers. (OOF)
She is the current lead in Girls As Leaders in STEM (GALS) which provides experience for girls in Years 5-8 to develop their problem solving skills alongside mentors from University and Industry. Welcome Professor Hobbs.
Professor Asha Rao
| Professor Asha Rao is a Professor of Mathematics and Cybersecurity at RMIT University, specializing in cyber-mathematics to enhance cybersecurity. Her research spans designing communication codes, detecting money laundering, and analyzing human interactions in physical and cyber spaces. Her work has resulted in grants, publications, an art installation, and invitations to cybersecurity meetings, including UN intergovernmental sessions on cybercrime.
Starting as a casual tutor at RMIT in 1992, she rose to Professor and held leadership roles, including Associate Dean of Mathematical Sciences (2017-2023) and Interim Director of the Australian Mathematical Sciences Institute in 2020. Passionate about mathematics and gender equity in STEM, she frequently appears on live TV discussing cybersecurity and engages in community activities like Pint of Science. Recognized for her contributions, she is a 2019-2020 Science & Technology Australia Superstar of STEM, a 2021 Victorian Honour Roll of Women inductee, and a 2021 India Australia Science and Technology Development award winner. |
Artificial Intelligence
Dr Lucinda Mcknight
| Dr Lucinda McKnight is an internationally recognised expert in the field of digital literacies, especially in generative AI and writing. She aims to change international and national conversations about meaningful and authentic writing pedagogies in a digital, AI-driven age. Identified as one of 12 global thought leaders in AI content creation, she sits on Turnitin’s international Advisory Board on the Future of Writing and is also on the editorial boards of the Journal of Education for Teaching, English in Australia and Curriculum Perspectives. Lucinda is on the Publications Committee for the International Association for the Advancement of Curriculum Studies. |
Lucinda also runs the https://teachingdigitalwriting.wordpress.com/ project, where educators can access some of her work for supporting teacher with AI and a glimpse of the volume of work she has produced in this area
Steven Payne
Steven Payne is a well known face to many educators across Western Australia through his work at Standout Education. He began his teaching career as a Maths teaching following his graduation in maths from Cambridge University. Steven arrived in Australia and began to support the transition into the digital technologies educational landscape. He worked for CSER Adelaide and their digital technologies implementation project, then moving to Regional Education Manager for Microsoft. Steven not only support the implementation of Microsoft 365 and AI, but he is known to many students as Minecraft Steve. He is a passionate Minecraft education expert, blending in elements of the curriculum and keep students engaged. Steven’s current work focused on Design Thinking Challenges and he shall be hosting another one of these events in WA this year.
Gary Stager
| Dr Gary Stager’s teaching career began in 1982 in computer technology. His work was based around Piaget’s theory of “knowledge is a consequence of experience”. Essentially, you learn by doing. Gary has had the privilege of working alongside and under the guidance of Seymour Papert whose work on mathematics and computing changed the educational landscape.
As the author of “Invent to Learn-Making, Tinkering and Engineering in the Classroom” he continues to engage in curriculum theory and practice and be at the forefront of keeping up with educational change. It is of no surprise that he has been in the AI space before it really became into the public conversation. His recent collaboration with Ken Kahn has led to “The Learner’s Apprentice: AI and the Amplification of Human Creativity” |
Middle Leadership
Andrew Oberthur
As a leading voice in educational leadership, you have written a book on The School Leadership Juggle, this resonated with me as the word Juggle is exactly what it is. The jump into middle leadership often takes those into a specific area, such as curriculum or operational or wellbeing. This is just the start of the leadership journey in many ways, how do you think educators can prepare and get into this space without losing sight of the bigger picture?
Aleesha Mueleners
Aleesha is an Associate Principal in Western Australia, following a highly successful stint in the Pilbara where she led numerous initiatives, as well as international posts where she was involved in the international baccalaureate system, she returned to Perth and took up a middle leadership role. She has a strong ability to analyse and evaluate school data and uses this to improve educational outcomes for students. With a vast comprehensive of multiple curriculums, she uses differentated instruction and alignment to whole school programs, with a focus on inquiry learning and digital technologies. She is an advocate for creating well-adjusted students with the skills required for the future.
Role of the Educational Coach
Jenny Cole
https://positivelybeaming.com.au/
| Jenny is a leadership coach, consultant and recovering Principal (more on that later!) She launched her company Positively Beaming because she believes, in her words, that the world needs more women like YOU. Clever, professional women with big hearts.
She is a pioneer in an often-male dominated area, that of leadership, and she champions for women who want to make a difference, lead teams AND still be a compassionate, empathetic human beings. |
Jenny understands the imposter syndrome many of us face moving into these leadership spaces and she is behind us all in the way in making sure we build our confidence to tackle anything. She has had key partnerships with the Department of Education, and hosts her own Podcast, Positively Leading in Schools.
Harry Hastings
| Harry Hastings is a well loved and renowned teacher from the United Kingdom. He is an outstanding teacher and he has a few celebrity students who continue to credit him for their passion for education. Whilst I was not lucky enough to teach alongside him, I arrived at the Dragon school just after he left to take up a Deputy Head role. Even then, he was spoken about with somewhat legendary status and was clearly loved and a very much missed part of the team. He moved to become Headmaster of Ardingly College Prep School and has worked out that he has served 99 terms in education. He is now a Level 7 coach in education and has set up his own consultancy company The Sherpa, supporting schools and educators. |
Instruction in Action
Dr Kathy Gibbs- Differentiated Instruction
Dr Kathy Gibbs is a senior lecturer at Griffith’s University in Queensland. Not only does she hold numerous degrees including her doctorate in Education, but she has also completed graduate work in the areas of Psychology and Adolescent Health and Welfare. Kathy really does have an holistic approach and background to education. The wealth of her research is in Differentiated Instruction as a teaching pedagogy suitable for all students.
Foundation Principals
Oracy and debating in the classroom
Supporting Gifted and Talented students
Preparing our Graduate Teachers
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Getting your book published. Tips and advice from Amba Press Publishing house
Meet Alicia Cohen, the founder of Amba Press Publishing. Recognising the expertise and the quality of Australian educators, Alicia has created a publishing house that provides the voice for all of us in education. In this masterclass she talks us through the process and helps give that confidence boost we need to take the leap of faith into getting that book in our head onto paper!
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Volume 44, Issue 4
Special Issue: New Perspectives on Curriculum and Democracy - Part II
Volume 45, Issue 1
Special Issue: Feminisms and Curriculum Inquiry
Luncinda McKnight’s opens our special issue on Feminisms and Curriculum and Inquiry by reminding readers about the long and changing relationship between feminisms and education, and offers a challenge to rearticulate, expand, update and reinvent the role feminisms play in curriculum inquiry, in conjunction with other powerful social justice agendas. Part history, part call to action, this is a cracking read for curriculum scholars both new and old!
NSW
