Research

Research in the College of Education is directed toward improved understanding of education and enhancement of educational practice. The College is dedicated to promoting open inquiry and informed discussion about educational issues, policies and practices within society, and to implementing the University's commitment to the Treaty of Waitangi.

Our Research Programme
Research News
Publications
Postgraduate Research Students
Research Centres

Our Research Programme

The College of Education has a strong research programme that includes:

Critical analysis of the theory and practice of teaching and learning in schools and other contexts;
Teacher professional development;
Analysis of the policy and ideological contexts of education;
Information technology in education, including the use of the Internet for teaching and learning;
Inclusive education and issues of disability and justice;
Study of the relationships between education, families, peers and the community;
Historical analysis of the origins of current educational ideas and practices in education;
Gender issues;
Early Childhood curriculum, policy, history.

Research students in the College of Education benefit from the work that the College does in its links with a number of leading research centres. In particular there are strong links with the Children's Issues Centre, the Donald Beasley Institute and the Educational Assessment Research Unit.

The Donald Beasley Institute is an independent research centre in Dunedin with a focus on disability and family issues.
The Educational Assessment Research Unit (EARU) is located at the University of Otago. It is involved in research on assessment in New Zealand schools. It manages the National Educational Monitoring Project (NEMP).

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Research News

Recent Conference Presentations

Catherine Morrison presented in July at the 18th International Symposium of Adapted Physical Activity (APA) in Paris at the University of Nanterre La Défense. With over 50 countries and 300 delegates represented, it was inspirational to hear and meet key scholars who research and work in the field of APA. The essence of the symposium, ‘Theory Meets Practise’, was to continue the worldwide momentum of APA research informing quality adaptive physical activity that ensures better health, sport, and educational opportunities for all people with disabilities.

A highlight for the New Zealanders during the week was an invitation to a function at the New Zealand Embassy. We were very generously hosted by our Ambassador, Rosemary Banks, and the Embassy staff. We all treasured the opportunity and also the occasion to view and soak up the atmosphere of such a beautiful French residence.

Photo - Left to right: Dr Lisette Burrows (University of Otago) - Rosemary Banks (NZ Ambassador) - Catherine Morrison (University of Otago)

SciTED Talks About Science That Need To Be Seen

Lisa and Jeff Smith gave one of the inaugural "SciTED Talks About Science That Need To Be Seen," hosted by the Science Communication Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin. The title of their talk was, My six year old could draw a better supernova than that! Here is the link to watch it:

http://vimeo.com/23607865

Debbie Downs' son, Kade, age 6, provided the drawing of the supernova that features at the end of the talk. Thanks, Kade!

Book Launch

The recently published Living Legacy: A History of the Anglican Diocese of Auckland (editor Allan K. Davidson) will be launched in Auckland on Friday 27 May. Hugh Morrison contributed a chapter to this collaborative history and will be attending the launch with the other contributing authors. It is the first history of the diocese to be written, and is entirely research-based.

Matariki Travel Award

Dr Karen Nairn has been awarded a Matariki Travel Award to visit Uppsala University, Sweden, 2011. Otago and Uppsala Universities are both members of an international consortium of universities called the Matariki Network, which encourages scholarly exchange. This visit will establish connections with academics in education, youth studies, geography and sociology.

First Doctor of Education at Otago

Congratulations to David Berg, who completed his EdD and is the first graduate of the College of Education EdD Programme. His thesis is entitled, An international comparative study of the teacher efficacy beliefs and concerns about teaching of preservice teachers in Malaysia, New Zealand, and England. David will receive his degree during the May 2011 graduation ceremony in Dunedin.

PhD Success

Congratulations to Hang Thi who completed her PhD thesis Factors affecting the motivation of Vietnamese Technical Majors in their English Studies. Hang will receive her degree during the May 2011 graduation ceremony in Dunedin.

Centre for Educational Leadership and Administration

Our Centre for Educational Leadership and Administration (CELA) was formally established on 1 January this year. The aim of the Centre is to engage in high quality leadership teaching, research and community service that will mutually benefit the College, students, teachers and the broader educational community in New Zealand and internationally.

In particular, its key developmental areas will be focused on policy development; theoretical and conceptual understandings about educational leadership; the practice of leadership across early childhood, primary and secondary education sectors; and research that underpins improved leadership practice and policy development.

In its foundation stages, the staffing of the Centre comprises Dr Ross Notman, Director; Dr Darrell Latham and Lisa Johnson as our part-time research assistant. The Centre offices are located on the first floor of the Education Centre building. So far this year, we have hosted the following visitors: Prof Barbara Hoffer (USA), Prof Susan Danby (Queensland), together with Cate Bardwell (UOCE librarian) and Dorothy Butterfield (School leadership and management advisor).

Planned activities for 2010 include Phase II of the 14-country International Successful School Principalship Project which investigates how primary and secondary principals build and sustain success; leadership collaboration with the University of Otago Business School Executive Education programme; production of an edited book on successful leadership in New Zealand schools and early childhood centres, and co-ordination of international programmes on behalf of the College.

These activities will culminate in CELA’s official launch with a Leadership Symposium in Dunedin (20 September) and Invercargill (21 September). Principal speakers will be Prof Bruce Barnett, University of Texas; Prof Jan Robertson, formerly University of Waikato and University of London; Prof Helen May, UOCE; and Dr Ross Notman, CELA Director. College staff are warmly invited to attend.

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Publications

University of Otago College of Education 2009 Research Report (657k in PDF format)

University of Otago College of Education 2008 Research Report (520k in PDF format)

University of Otago College of Education 2007-2008 Research Report (86k in PDF format)

University of Otago College of Education Research Handbook (517k in PDF format)

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Postgraduate Research Students

PhDs	Research Title
John Douglas	New Zealand Secondary school principals: The changing role since 1989
Lester Flockton	New Zealand’s National Education Monitoring Project: The conception, inception and realisation of an educationally principled large-scale assessment programme
Michael Gaffney	Disabled and non-disabled children's construction of identity - the influences of school experiences
Rachel Garden	Antecedents of academic motivation of Level 1 NCEA English students in South Island Catholic secondary schools
Max Gold	Teaching for deep understanding
Scott Klenner	Negotiating subjectivity and identity in the teaching professionalism: Being a Māori teacher in a non-Māori environment
Barrie Irving	How social justice is understood within the context of official New Zealand career education policy guidelines, and by career educators in secondary schools. See student profile
Scott Lee	Visual mapping: Making evident young children’s thinking in the classroom for the purposes of observation, teaching, and assessment. See student profile
Philip Munro	Primary to postprimary: Issues in school choice
Mark Nichols	The spiritual formation of undergraduate theological education students at a distance: Is there a disadvantage?
Ahmad Sabry Othman	Teaching mathematics in second language. See student profile
Tangiwai Rewi	Reclaiming traditional knowledge frameworks in Waikato Tainui. See student profile
Denis Slowley	Experienced principal training for future school development
Esther Smaill	Moderation: Assessment for professional learning in education (Teacher experiences and assessment outcome)
Lee Smith	Gender and the Ball
Julie Stigter	Teachers’ Understandings of Cross-Curricular Integration of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) . See student profile
Patty Towl	Stand down and students beliefs about themselves as members of a learning community. See student profile
Matt Wilson-Wheeler	An examination of the discursive construction of academic 'underachievement'
Anne Wright	Creating and Maintaining Effective Leadership in Rural (small) Schools

EdD
Chris Addington	"Constable, Priest, Cheerleader, Tutor, Student”. A Proposal for Studying the Expectations of First-Year Residential Assistants' in Residential Halls and Colleges
Owen Arnst	Childhood spirituality in the context of the New Zealand primary school
Sarah Brown	An Investigation into the Relationships around the Transition to School: Children, Family, Teachers
Tracey Cullen	Assessing reading comprehension is problematic: Why teachers continue to use informal reading inventories when there are alternative methods.
Liz Eley	Teachers’ classroom judgements of students’ achievement.
Iain Matheson	Learning from degree students and recent graduates with a care background: Experiences of education whilst in residential and foster care. See student profile
Linda Miller	Improving teaching and learning in three New Zealand secondary schools; factors influencing principal's actions.
Angela Page	Relational aggression in New Zealand secondary school classrooms
Merrolee Penman	How effective are occupational therapists in managing a self-directed process: A case study
Suzanne Renner	A quantitative and qualitative inquiry into the beliefs and attitudes of primary school teachers towards dance in the curriculum. See student profile
Kate Rice	The effect of building teachers' nature of science understanding through a professional development programme on science teaching practice
Victoria Rosin	How teacher educators' learning environments are perceived by pre-service teachers
Helen Trevethan	A self-directed approach to professional development for associate teachers
Jane Tilson	An exploration of the use of videotaped teaching and collaborative discussion to support preservice teachers to critically reflect on their emerging teaching practice
Sharon Young	Literacy and pre-teacher education

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Research Centres

Educational Assessment Research Unit (EARU)
Centre for Distance Education and Learning Technologies
Centre for Educational Leadership and Administration