Department of Learners, Learning and Teaching
In today's complex and swiftly changing environment, we believe teacher education must help develop effective educational leaders and teachers who are committed to the ongoing improvement of curriculum and pedagogy.
Our lecturers and researchers are experts in pedagogy and school improvement. They have extensive experience in working with school leaders, teachers, and specialists, paraprofessionals and preservice teachers.
We acknowledge the complex role of the teaching profession in preparing children to lead productive and successful lives.
Our subject areas
Learn the requirements of the Australian Curriculum, how to meet the diverse needs of students in our classrooms, and strategies for managing difficult behaviours.
Our partnerships
We partner with local and regional schools to support supervision of pre-service teachers and professional development of teaching staff. Our strong and unique international links create exciting exchange and taster opportunities for our students, and enrich our courses with global perspectives and attitudes. Building capability within our schools is an important way our department supports the teaching profession in Australia. Through a successful tender to the Bastow Institute of Educational Leadership, in collaboration with UNE Partnerships, we provide training workshops for school principals and leadership teams across Victoria to improve knowledge of teaching theory and practice, build capability and improve confidence to undertake complex leadership roles. The Leading Pedagogy Course for Principals in Victoria builds on the Framework for Improving Student Outcomes (FISO) and supports the implementation of the Victorian Teaching and Learning Model (VTLM). It is premised on the idea that leaders who establish high performance expectations, clearly communicate their vision and goals to promote a common language, foster a shared sense of accountability, and cultivate inquiry mindsets in staff around the use of data, are well placed to improve and sustain positive student outcomes. This training is delivered by our education experts in conjunction with UNE's training arm, UNE Partnerships. Project leaders: Professor Sue Gregory and Dr Jennifer Charteris Project partners: UNE Partnerships and Bastow Institute of Educational Leadership (Victoria Department of Education and Training) 'HUB schools' are a cluster of local schools we partner with to support the work of in and pre-service teachers in northern NSW. Through our 'HUB schools project', we've co-constructed professional learning opportunities for teachers and a program of reflective practice for in-service teachers. We've also produced a suite of digital resources to develop the observational and critiquing practices of pre-service teachers. Project leader: Dr Joanna Anderson Project partners: The Department of Education and participating local school clusters. Our students have the option to participate in an unforgettable cultural immersion experience in Malaysia and Borneo exploring cultures, traditions, and a diversity of schools. The school-based visits provide our students with first-hand insights into the nature of education in Malaysia, compelling them to reflect and appreciate their teaching role in Australia. Malaysian teachers and students have fun learning and appreciating the many aspects of the unique Australian culture. This program is funded, ensuring all involved can access and experience the valuable and life-changing lessons only a global classroom can teach. The cultural immersion opportunity is made possible through a partnership with the Kuala Lumpur based organisation LeapEd Consulting, that works with industry to provide resources to Malaysian government schools to transform educational resources, access and learning. Project leader: Dr Ingrid Harrington Project partners: LeapEd Consulting
Our research
Our researchers help advance the profession of education through a better understanding of modern teaching and learning. Our cross-cultural collaborations ensure our schools, teachers and student teachers benefit from the best international practices and expertise. Settling into life and study as an international university students can be difficult at the best of times. Now, with unprecedented lockdowns, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the challenges for social inclusion. Through this research project, we’re examining the experiences of inclusion and exclusion of international students studying at UNE and the University of Dortmund, and the impact of the COVID-19 restrictions. Drawing attention to their plight and working towards collaborative solutions with the host universities, we hope to provide sustainable responses that will ease the difficulties for international students and assist them in feeling included at university and in their ‘home’ environment. Researcher: Dr Ingrid Harrington Research partner: Fachhochschule Dortmund (Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Germany) Flexible, inclusive spaces are the new norm in our school classrooms. But how do we ensure they are adequately designed for the diverse needs of our students? As part of an Inclusive Education in Innovative Learning Environments (IEILE) Project team, our researchers are undertaking research into pedagogies of inclusion in the flexible and open learning spaces of newly built and refurbished schools. The team has conducted fieldwork in 21 primary and secondary schools in Australasia and interviewed over 50 leaders and teachers. The team provides peer review on school building designs. They are collaborating with Sally Brincat, Education Lead at Thomson Adsett Architects and Lisa Horton, Director at On-Paper, to provide peer review on the design of new school buildings in Victoria. To date the team has reviewed the floor plans of buildings that make up a Supported Inclusion Hub Primary School designed by ThomsonAdsett in partnership with Law Architects. The review involved providing input into the effective use of the Department of Education and Training area schedules, general design parameters, site layout and principles, and building typologies and intent. The team is working with Thomson Adsett Architects to develop further peer review projects for Supported Inclusion Hubs and Special Development Schools throughout Victoria. Researchers: Dr Jennifer Charteris, Dr Joanna Anderson and Dr Angela Page (University of Newcastle) Research partners: University of Newcastle, Thomson Adsett Architects, On-Paper The complexities of life require that many of us make a concerted effort to find a balance between work, family and study commitments. Our inability to make a well-rounded balance may give rise to anxiety, a perceived sense of helplessness, negative outlook and/or feeling of pessimism. This research project explores the importance in development of a person’s ‘holistic self’. Development of holistic self, emphasising the interconnectedness between society, mind and physical body may serve to improve our personal wellbeing. Our cross-cultural research inquiries seek to explore how Life Education, taking into consideration Confucianism and Buddhist mindfulness and spirituality, may help a person develop their holistic self. Researcher: Professor Huy P. Phan Research Partners: Huafan University, National Taipei University of Education, National Taiwan University Our strong cross-institutional collaborations with Japan help us learn from the strengths of diverse education practices. Our research links with University of Shimane (Matsue), Osaka Jogakuin University, and Kansai University in Japan help develop our understanding of technology in language teaching and learning, especially in online learning and second language vocabulary development. These insights ensure our education students benefit from a broad understanding of transcultural education. Researcher: Dr Joshua Matthews Research partners: University of Shimane (Matsue), Osaka Jogakuin University, and Kansai University
Contact us
To find out more about our department, please contact:
Head of Department, Learners, Learning and Teaching
Dr Jennifer Charteris
Email: eduhod-llt@une.edu.au
