GALS DIRECTOR, DEAKIN UNIVERSITY

Professor Linda Hobbs has designed, implemented and evaluated professional learning for school teachers for over fifteen years. She currently leads the evaluation of the Victorian Tech Schools Initiative, working closely with the Department of Education and Training (DET) and Tech Schools to develop a rigorous evaluation strategy involving a range of key stakeholders. She has also led a number of projects, including two Australian Research Council (ARC) projects, investigating the learning experiences of out-of-field teachers of science and mathematics and educational systems. Her research into out-of-field teaching, and teacher and school change materials developed as part of her STEM professional learning program have been applied to a range of contexts, including other programs for primary and secondary school teachers.

GALS RESOURCES MANAGER, DEAKIN UNIVERSITY

Dr. Lihua Xu is an Associate Professor in the School of Education at Deakin University. She has extensive experience working with teachers and schools in professional learning and curriculum design in the areas of science, mathematics, and interdisciplinary STEM. Over the last 15 years, she has been involved in and led a number of large-scale projects that investigated curriculum and instructional practices in primary and secondary schools. Her current research explores innovative ways to improve interdisciplinary STEM learning in schools and facilitate school change in STEM education.

GALS PROJECT MANAGER & RESEARCH LEAD

Dr Chris Speldewinde is a Research Fellow and Project Manager at Deakin University. His primary research focus is on teaching and learning in bush kinders, an outdoor context for Australian early childhood education. Chris has published a number of academic and practitioner publications regarding bush kinders including a recently co-authored booklet in the Early Childhood Australia’s Research in Practice series. His current research is investigating assessment of children’s learning in bush kinders and children’s risk and resilience. He has worked on projects involving with multi-university research teams investigating issues in early childhood, primary and secondary school education.

SCHOOL LIAISON OFFICER, DEAKIN UNIVERSITY

Kristin Walsh is a sessional academic and Research Assistant in the School of Education at Deakin University. She has worked across several research teams supporting Victorian schools and teachers in STEM education programs, and with the Office of the Vice Chancellor to develop and establish a Warrnambool based STEM program, including the implementation of facilitator training,  accessible through our Warrnambool campus. As School Liaison Officer on the Girls as Leaders in STEM ‘GALS’ project she has worked with schools, teachers, students and community across Western Victoria, Mildura and Geelong regions. Other research projects include ‘Kids Teaching Teachers Digital Technologies,’ and Telematics Trust VR-Haptics for regional STEM.

PARTNERSHIP MANAGER, DEAKIN UNIVERSITY

Janine Meadley is a Research Assistant in the School of Education at Deakin University. She is working as the Partnerships Manager of the Girls as Leaders in STEM ‘GALS’ project, focusing on connecting participants in the program with STEM industry professionals and community organisations. Janine has had a diverse career in education, which includes classroom teaching, designing innovative education resources for real-world learning and researching and supporting the preparation of talent for Principalship. She initially studied Performing Arts and is also a qualified counsellor.

SENIOR LECTURER, SCHOOL OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, GALS TECHNOLOGY ENTHUSIAST, DEAKIN UNIVERSITY

Sophie is a senior lecturer in the School of Information Technology at Deakin University. Sophie’s background in technology, games design, virtual reality and prototyping contributes to GALS through engaging the teachers and students in design thinking and design sprints. Sophie has worked with students and teachers over the last 5 years to consider approaches to classroom engagement using technology, with a focus on using games to immersive learners in critical topics.

LECTURER, INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION, ARTS AND COMMUNITY, FEDERATION UNIVERSITY

Josh is a lecturer in the Institute of Education, Arts and Community at Federation University. Josh's research focuses on different models of teaching and learning in middle years education. Josh uses the arts-based methodology of poetic inquiry within his research. Josh has worked in several P-12 school contexts across Government, Independent and Catholic sectors. Josh is also heavily involved in professional associations related to his work in the outdoor and broader education sectors. Josh is available for expert panel membership, report writing and research projects.

FEDERATION UNIVERSITY

Coding Animated Narratives as Contemporary Multimodal Authorship in Schools, and as NSW lead for the Federal Government’s Principals as STEM Leaders (PASL) project. His research interests include mobile learning, digital learning in primary and middle schools, online and blended learning, curriculum design, pedagogy and assessment in digitally-supported innovative learning environments, learning in primary science and technology, and educational research methods. Garry has served on numerous advisory and writing panels for eLearning policy and curriculum development, industry and sector advisory boards, and the NZ Prime Minister's Panel of Experts for Digital Learning.

FEDERATION UNIVERSITY

Dr Dũng Trần is Associate Professor in Mathematics and STEM Education at the Institute of Education, Arts and Community, Federation University Australia. His research focuses on (a) analysing, designing and implementing curriculum to improve diverse students' mathematical literacy, abilities to use mathematics and statistics to be functional and critical in the home, civic, and work-life; and (b) developing teacher competence to teach students mathematics, using holistic approaches.

He works with preservice and inservice teachers in several countries to develop their mathematical teaching competence. He also has extensive experience in curriculum analysis and development. His expertise includes document analysis, design-based research, clinical (task-based) interviews, and using both quantitative and qualitative research methods.

FEDERATION UNIVERSITY

Dr. Yuwen Ma is a lecturer in Early Childhood Education at the Institute of Education, Arts and Community.  Yuwen collaborates extensively with international scholars and teachers to design and implement effective STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) projects that enhance children’s STEM learning processes and promote teachers' confidence and competence.  Her research is centred on play-based learning, enhancing children's STEM education, fostering imagination and creativity, and promoting students’ agency.

FEDERATION UNIVERSITY

Rob is a Senior Lecturer in the Institute of Education, Arts and Community at Federation University’s Mt Helen Campus. Rob's primary research interests are in the field of science & technology education, but he also undertakes research in other curriculum areas, such as science, SOSE and mathematics. Prior to working at Federation University, he taught in primary schools across regional, rural and remote areas of Queensland for 16 years, and has also taught at the University of Chester in UK as part of an academic exchange program.

FEDERATION UNIVERSITY

Jill is a sessional lecturer in Senior Science Curriculum in the Institute of Education, Arts and Community at Federation University and mentors Pre-Service Teachers in their school placements.

Jill was a classroom teacher of secondary maths, science and chemistry for 25 years and has expertise in curriculum development, leading Professional Learning Communities and coordinating school daily operations. Jill has a chemical engineering degree and prior to her career in education worked as a process engineer in the food industry.