Dr Peter Fletcher

Lecturer, STEM Education , STEM Education - Faculty of Humanities, Arts, Social Sciences and Education; School of Education

Peter Fletcher

Phone: +61 2 6773 3904

Mobile: 0423117725

Email: peter.fletcher@une.edu.au

Biography

Peter Fletcher’s academic research interests centre on exploring the interplay between various types of pedagogy, andragogy and heutagogy which promote a learning experience that is student-centred, personalised and grounded in local communities and contexts. He takes every opportunity to encourage teachers to explore pedagogies which give school students increased agency and autonomy over their own learning. He believes that when learning is relevant and engaging, students can successfully develop their self-regulation and perseverance skills, which in turn creates an environment to foster deeper learning.

Peter’s educational philosophy is based on the belief that effective teaching, learning and instruction should be interdisciplinary and that students should be challenged to see the world through a variety of lenses - including those of community, ecology, politics, economics, science, culture and social interaction.

Passion - His passion concerns facilitating effective STEM education and technology integration across the curriculum!  There is nothing better than seeing students engaged in authentic learning that links science, technology, engineering and mathematics as they support local community projects and engage in meaningful creation of new knowledge. Hence, he is a big fan and an advocate for Place-Based STEM education (learning and teaching) across primary and secondary school settings.

Peter is an advocate for Outdoor Learning/Education including nature play spaces. Research indicates that students are spending around two hours each day sitting or lying down engaged in screen-based activities and not engaging in the recommended 1 hour of physical activity per day. So, on health-related grounds this is an issue! Additionally, students are becoming just consumers of knowledge rather than makers of knowledge. Peter wants to see a shift towards less siloed units of work and more integrated learning experiences that connect with nature and built environments in mainstream school programs.

Outdoor education initiatives often tend to have an emphasis on environmental and/or sport which is certainly a step in the right direction. Peter likes to enhance pedagogy by utilising science and technology to explore these areas (for example, datalogging microclimates and the physics of sport) and also expand ‘natures’ boundaries to include looking at our place in the cosmos (through geology and astronomy). He also enjoys encouraging people to learn more about first nations people knowledge especially in relation to technologies and astronomy.

Peter has been a member of NSW Department of Education STEM Action School (Hastings Secondary College) team, is a mentor for the - New England Online Gifted and Talented program (eGATS) coordinating the Computer Coding module. He also supports workshops in STEM and Astronomy education for the NSW Department of Education - Thalgarrah Environmental Education Centre. Peter also provides educational support to the Port Macquarie Astronomical Association Cassini Education group.

Research – His research interests are broad. He is especially captivated by the complex interplay between addressing social-emotional learning, inquiry-based pedagogies, and strategies to address inclusivity and differentiation within our classrooms.

Purpose – His goal is to engage local communities to boost academic outcomes and increase student and teacher engagement.

Experience – Peter is a qualified K-6 Primary (Generalist) Teacher and 7-12 Secondary (Mathematics, Science, Physics and Computing Studies) Teacher. His school-based experience includes Riverside Girls High School, St Columba Anglican School, Wauchope High School and Melville High School. In the tertiary sector, He has been a Lecturer in Science Education, Lecturer in ICT Education, Lecturer in Physics and Lecturer in STEM Education at the University of New England; Tutor at the University of Sydney; Lecturer in Physics at University of Southern Queensland; and a Research Associate in Physics Education at Kansas State University.

Peter also has sixteen years professional experience in industry including Managing Director of Pure Logic Pty Ltd, Manager Information Technology Services for South Western Sydney Institute of TAFE, Information Technology Services Manager Operations for North Coast Institute of TAFE, and Manager Networks, Communications and Desktop for North Coast Institute of TAFE.

Please don't hesitate to contact Peter if you have an interest in discussing or collaborating.

Qualifications

Doctor of Philosophy
How Tertiary Level Physics Students Learn and Conceptualise Quantum Mechanics
University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Certificate IV Workplace Assessment and Training
North Coast Institute of TAFE, New South Wales, Australia

Master of Science
How Students Learn Quantum Mechanics
University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Graduate Diploma in Education (Secondary)
University of Technology Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Bachelor of Education (Primary)
University of New England, New South Wales, Australia

Bachelor of Science (Double major Mathematics and Physics)
University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Graduate Diploma in Information Technology
University of New England, New South Wales, Australia

Diploma Programming Technology
Control Data Institute, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Certifications
NSW Institute of Teachers - (Proficient)
NSW Teacher's Certificate
Working with Children

Awards

2021
University of New England, Vice-Chancellors's Scholar

2016
Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning, Australian Awards for University Teaching

2016
Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning, UNE Awards for Teaching Excellence

2015
Outstanding Paper Award, EdMedia, World Conference on Educational Media & Technology

1999-2000
University of Sydney, School of Physics Research Scholarship

1999
University of Sydney, Science Foundation Travel Fund Grant

Grants

2015-2018
Advancing Science and Engineering through Laboratory Learning (ASEL) (https://asell.org), ASELL in Schools project
Role: Education Project Team Member and Workshop Facilitator

2016-2017
STEM Action Schools Project
NSW Department of Education - Hastings Secondary College
Role: Hastings Secondary College Team Member and Academic Mentor

2016
Australian Academy of Science, Commissioned Report
Reach and scope for 'Primary Connections' online professional learning and development: A sector scan and review of science and literacy initiatives. Quinn, F., Charteris, J., Adlington, R., Rizk, N., Fletcher, P., & Reyes, V. September - November 2016
Role: Team Member

2009-2010
Collaborative And Structural Reform Project (CASR Physics)
Role: Project Officer for Physics curriculum and resource development

2005-2008
Australian School Innovation in Science, Technology and Mathematics
Developing Multimedia Tools for Senior High School Physics
Role: Develop materials relating to Electromagnetism for Stage 6

2000-2001
University of Sydney, Science Faculty Education Research Grant
Conceptualisation – Across Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics
Role: Project Team Leader

2000-2001
University of Sydney, Science Faculty Education Research Grant
Integration of Science Courses
Role: Team Member representing School of Physics

Teaching Areas

Current School Teaching Areas

K-6 Primary (generalist)
7-12 Mathematics
7-10 Science
11-12 Physics
7-10 Computing Studies / Computing Technology
11-12 Information Processes Technology  / Enterprice Computing
11-12 Software Design and Development / Software Engineering

Current Tertiary Teaching Areas

ICT Education Pre-Service Teachers
Digital Learning
STEM Education  Pre-Service Teachers

Primary Research Area/s

STEM Education

Research Interests

Research Interests

Place-Based STEM Teaching and Learning
STEM Outreach Education
Astronomy Outreach Education
Learning Commons
ICT Across Education
ePedagogy and eAndragogy
Physics Education
Virtual Campus Education Systems
UI and UX
e-Learning in Higher Education

Methodology Expertise

Action Research
Mixed Methods
Grounded Theory
Qualitative Analysis
Phenomenography

Research Supervision Experience

University of New England

Exploring student engagement and teaching practice during the introduction of an Enterprise Skills course at a regional high school.
Ruth Winfield - Parkes, M. (supervisor); Fletcher, P. (supervisor);
Ed.D. (Current student)

Conceptualising-Operationalising Expertise in Independent Schools: Teacher and Leader Perceptions.
Andrew Bell - Fletcher, P. (supervisor); Hardy, J. (supervisor)
Graduated Ed.D. 2018

Building Early Career K-6 Teacher Competence and Confidence to Teach Fundamental Concepts of Electricity and Magnetism.
Bruce McMullen - Littledyke, M. (supervisor); Fletcher, P. (supervisor)
Graduated Ph.D. 2012

Kansas State University - Mentorship and co-supervision of Postgraduate Students with Sanjay Rebello

Transfer of Learning with an Application to the Physics of Positron Emission Tomography.
Bijaya Aryal
Graduated Ph.D. 2007

Students' Modelling of Friction at the Microscopic Level.
Edgar Corpuz
Graduated Ph.D. 2006

Assessing College Students' Retention and Transfer from Calculus to Physics.
Lili Cui
Graduated Ph.D. 2006

Student Learning and Dynamic Transfer While Interacting with the Constructing Physics Understanding Curriculum.
Charles B. Mamolo
Graduated M.Sc. 2006

Publications

JOURNALS

The potential of online technologies in meeting PLD needs of rural teachers, (2020), Quinn, F., Charteris, J., Adlington, R., Rizk, N., Fletcher, P., & Parkes, M. Asia-Pacific Journal of Teacher Education. pp. 1-15.Taking a Studio Course in Distributed Software Engineering from a Large Local Cohort to a Small Global Cohort, (2019), Thomas, R.N., Steel, J.R.H., Süß, J. G., Torbay, R., Fletcher, P. R., Billingsley, W., ACM Transactions on Computing Education, 19(2), pp. 1-27.

Developing, situating and evaluating effective online professional learning and development: a review of some theoretical and policy frameworks, (2019),Quinn, F., Charteris, J., Adlington, R., Rizk, N., Fletcher, P., Reyes, V., Parkes, M., AER: Australian Educational Researcher, v.46, pp. 405-424.

An investigation of K-6 pre-service teachers' ways of experiencing the teaching of diverse learners using phenomenography, (2018), Hathaway, T., Fletcher, P., Educational Research for Policy and Practice, 17(2), pp. 83-104.

Professional Knowledge Landscapes in Online Pre-service Teacher Education: An Exploration through Metaphor, (2018), Quinn, F., Charteris, J., Fletcher, P., Parkes, M., Reyes, V., Australian Journal of Teacher Education, 43(10), pp. 60-80.

Student-initiated Facebook sites: Nurturing personal learning environments or a place for the disenfranchised?, (2018), Charteris, J., Parkes, M., Gregory, S., Fletcher, P., Reyes, V., Technology, Pedagogy and Education, 27(4), pp. 459-472.

A longitudinal, quantitative study of student attitudes towards audio feedback for assessment, (2017), Parkes, M., Fletcher, P., Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, 42(7), pp. 1046-1053.

e-Assessment for learning and performativity in higher education: A case for existential learning, (2016), Charteris, J., Quinn, F., Parkes, M., Fletcher, P., Reyes, V., Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 32(3), pp. 112-122.

Bringing People Together While Learning Apart: Creating Online Learning Environments to Support the Needs of Rural and Remote Students, (2015), Parkes, M., Gregory, S., Fletcher, P., Adlington, R., Gromik, N., Australian and International Journal of Rural Education, 25(1), pp. 66-78.

e-Assessment for Learning (eAfL) in higher education: is it a wolf in sheep's clothing?, (2015), Charteris, J., Quinn, F., Parkes, M., Fletcher, P., Reyes, V., Journal for Learning Development in Higher Education (9), pp. 1-24.

Teaching Primary Science in Rural and Regional Australia: Some Challenges Facing Practicing and Pre-service Teachers, (2009), Laidlaw, K., Taylor, N., Fletcher, P., Journal of Science and Mathematics Education in Southeast Asia, 32(2), pp. 105-130.

Student difficulties in learning quantum mechanics, (1998) Johnston, I.D., Crawford, K., Fletcher, P.R., International Journal of Science Education, 20, No 4, pp. 427–446.

Physics Education Research: Education or Research?, (1996), Johnston, I.D., Cooper, I.J., Fekete, P.W., Fletcher, P.R., Oldfield, M.A., McInnes, B.A., Millar, R.M., Sefton, I.M., Sharma, M.D., Walker, P.J., Australian and New Zealand Physicist, 33, No. 1/2, pp. 9–13.

CONFERENCES

Providing Initial Teacher Education Students with Flexible Assessment, (2019), Parkes, M., Fletcher, P., Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education International Conference, Las Vegas, USA, 18th - 22nd March.

Student preparedness for interaction in an online learning environment, (2017),Parkes, M., Fletcher, P.,EdMedia:  World Conference on Educational Media and Technology, Washington DC, USA, 20-JUN-2017, Proceedings of EdMedia: World Conference on Educational Media and Technology 2017, pp. 662-665.

Applying an Action Research Model to Learning (Re)Design, (2015), Parkes, M., Fletcher, P., Stein, S.,  EdMedia 2015: World Conference on Educational Media and Technology, Montreal, Canada, 22nd - 24th June, 2015, Proceedings of the World Conference on Educational Media and Technology (EdMedia), 2015(1), pp. 238-247.

Talking the Talk: Audio Feedback as a Tool for Student Assessment, (2014), Parkes, M., Fletcher, P., ED-MEDIA 2014: World Conference on Educational Multimedia, Hypermedia & Telecommunications, Tampere, Finland, 23rd - 26th June, 2014, Proceedings of the World Conference on Educational Multimedia, Hypermedia and Telecommunications (ED-MEDIA), 2014(1), pp. 1606-1615.

A Framework for Integrated Professional Development, (2006), Fletcher, P.R., Rebello, N.S., NSTA, San Francisco, CA.

College Students' Ideas About Some Everyday Electrical Devices, (2006), Haynicz, J., Fletcher, P.R., Rebello, N.S., NSTA, San Francisco, CA.

Dynamic Transfer and Learning Using a Constructivist-Based Curriculum, (2006), Mamolo, C.B., Fletcher, P.R., Rebello, N.S., NSTA, San Francisco, CA.

Students Epistemic Modes While Making Sense of Action Movie Clips, (2006), Poltera, C., Fletcher, P.R., Rebello, N.S., NSTA, San Francisco, CA.

Constructing a Responsive Methodology: Grounded Theory, Phenomenology and Action Research, (2005), Fletcher, P.R., Rebello, N.S., Oklahoma City Community College, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Professional Development: Case Study with Everyday Electrical Devices, (2005), Rebello, N.S., Fletcher, P.R., Oklahoma City Community College, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Movie Physics: Transfer of Learning to the Real – World, Poltera, C., (2005), Fletcher, P.R., Rebello, N.S., AAPT Summer Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT.

Movie Physics – Poster, (2005), Poltera, C.M., Fletcher, P.R., Rebello, N.S., PERC, Salt Lake City, UT.

A Methodological Framework for Physics Education Researcher & Teacher Professional Development – Poster, (2005), Fletcher, P.R., Rebello, N.S., PERC, Salt Lake City, UT.

Student Learning & Dynamic Transfer While Interacting with Constructing Physics Understanding Curriculum (CPU): A Case Study – Poster, (2005), Mamolo, C.C., Fletcher, P.R., Rebello, N.S., PERC, Salt Lake City, UT.

Administrative and Methodological Professional Development: Case Study Everyday Electrical Devices, (2005), Rebello, N.S., Fletcher, P., AAPT Summer Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT.

Constructing a Responsive Methodology: Grounded Theory, Phenomenology, and Action Research, (2005), Fletcher, P., Rebello, N.S., AAPT Summer Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT.

Professional Development: Case Study with Everyday Electrical Devices, (2005), Fletcher, P., Rebello, N.S., AAPT Summer Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT.

Operational View of Quantum Mechanics – Poster, (2005), Fletcher, P., Johnston I.D., AAPT Summer Meeting: Salt Lake City, UT.

Managing Cognitive Conflict in a Teaching Interview, (2005), Fletcher, P.R., Foundations & Frontiers of PER Conference Bar Harbor, ME, August 15-19, 2005.

Teaching Quantum Mechanics, (2005), Fletcher, P.R., 130th American Association of Physics Teachers 2005 Winter Meeting, Albuquerque, NM, United States of America, Jan. 8-12, 2005.

Analogies for Teaching and Assessing - Trick or Treat?, (2004), Fletcher, P.R., American Association of Physics Teachers, Arkansas-Oklahoma-Kansas Section Meeting, Little Rock, AR, United States of America, Oct 8-9, 2004.

How tertiary level Physics and Chemistry students learn to conceptualise quantum mechanics, (2000), Fletcher, P.R., 14th National Congress of the Australian Institute of Physics, Adelaide SA, Australia.

Quantum Mechanics Exploring Conceptual Change, (1999), Fletcher, P.R., Johnston, I.D., National Association for Research in Science, Teaching Annual Meeting, Boston MA, United States of America.

How Students Learn Quantum Mechanics, (1998), Fletcher, P.R. Johnston, I.D., 13th National Congress of the Australian Institute of Physics, Fremantle WA, Australia.

How Students Learn Quantum Mechanics, (1996), Fletcher, P.R., Johnston, I.D., Crawford, K., 12th Australian Institute of Physics Congress, Hobart TAS, Australia.

BOOK CHAPTERS

Big Data in Education: Pedagogy and research, (2021), Prodromou,T., (Ed) (Springer). Series: Policy Implications of Research in Education. Policy Implications of Research in Education, Vol. 13. Chapter 7: Employing Authentic Analytics for More Authentic Tasks. (Co-authored with William Billingsley)

Integrating Education for Sustainability into the Primary Curriculum: a guide for teachers, (2009), Littledyke, M., Taylor, N., Eames, C., (Eds) (Palgrave McMillan). Chapter 13: Adopting a thematic approach to education for Sustainability. 226–255. (Co-authored with Bruce McMullen)

In 2 Physics @ HSC, (2010), Bosi, S., O'Byrne, J., Fletcher, P., Khachan, J., Stanger, J., Woodward, S., (Pearson). Quanta to Quarks, Chapter 12: From Rutherford to Bohr. 228–246. Chapter 13: Birth of quantum mechanics. 247259. Chapter 14: 20th century alchemists. 260278. Chapter 15:  The particle zoo. 279301. Medical Physics, Chapter 17: Imaging with X-rays. 320332.

REPORTS

Asynchronous critiques via video to enable studio collaboration for employability skills in distance education, (2021), Project leader: William Billingsley; Team members: Huy Phan, Bing Ngu, Paul Kwan, Nicolas Gromik. Additional contributors: Rosemary Torbay, Peter R. Fletcher, Dambaru Subedi. Australian Government Office for Learning and Teaching.

Reach and scope for Primary Connections online professional learning and development: A sector scan and review of science and literacy initiatives, (2016), Quinn, F., Charteris, J., Adlington, R., Rizk, N., Fletcher, P., Reyes, V., University of New England School of Education

SEMINARS

Online learning design for large cohort units: Meeting the needs of all students, (2011), Parkes, M., Fletcher, P., ULT-Futures 2011 ‘Broad Participation, Diverse Futures’, University of New England, 14-15 September 2011.

Research Grant Progress Report, (2001), University of Sydney Science Education Research Group.

How Students Learn Quantum Mechanics, (1999), University of Maryland, Department of Physics Seminar.

How Students Learn Quantum Mechanics, (1997), University of Sydney, School of Physics Colloquia.

JOURNAL REVIEWER

International Journal of Innovation in Science and Mathematics Education (IJISME) (2018-present)

Memberships

Royal Astronomical Society (Fellow) (1998-present)

Oxley Region Amateur Radio Club, VK2HPF (2009-present)

Port Macquarie Astronomical Association
President (2001-2003), Vice President (1998-2000),
Treasurer (2002-2004), Technical Officer (1998-2004)

Science Teachers Association of NSW, (Member)

Consultancy Interests

STEM Curriculum and Resource Development
Place-Based Curriculum and Resource Development
Virtual Campus System Integration
ICT Integration (Business and Education)
ITIL Change Management
Enterprise Business Management
Learning Management and Content Management System Planning and Implementation

External Profiles

Further Information

UNE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION ACADEMIC SUPPORT ROLES

Academic Integrity Officer (2019-present)
ICT Education Team - Representative (2019-2021)
School Examiners Committee - Chair (2008)
Framing Our Future Committee - Vice Chair (2008)
Science and Technology Education - Team Leader (2007-2008)