Dr Rebecca Bird
Contact Details
- Phone
- +64 3 471 6277
- rebecca.bird@otago.ac.nz
University Links
- Position
- Teaching Fellow
- Department
- Department of Anatomy
- Qualifications
- MSci(Keele) PhD(Glasgow) MHEd(Otago)
- Research summary
- Anatomical Sciences Education, Student Transition and Success, First Year Experience
- Teaching
- HUBS 191 & 192 Human Body Systems
- CELS191 Cell and Molecular Biology
- ANAT131 Origins of Anatomical Language
- ANAT 243 Reproductive and Developmental Biology
- Memberships
- HERDSA
- Associate Fellow, Higher Education Academy, UK
- Ako Aotearoa Academy of Tertiary Teaching Excellence
Research
Rebecca is a Teaching Fellow / Kaiwhakaako in Te Tari Kikokiko / Department of Anatomy, and teaches a wide range of topics in 100- and 200-level papers.
Originally from Wellington, Rebecca holds a PhD in Cellular and Molecular Biology from the University of Glasgow, and recently completed a Master of Higher Education with distinction from Otago. In 2018, Rebecca received both a University of Otago Award for Excellence in Teaching and an Ako Aotearoa National Tertiary Teaching Award for Sustained Excellence.
She is committed to instilling a passion for science in her students and creating a supportive and inclusive learning environment, and is a Kaiāwhina Māori for Anatomy.
Her research interests reflect her learner-centric approach, with focus on student experience and belonging, retention of knowledge, and educational technology. She is a founding member of ASERT (Anatomical Sciences Education Research Team).
Additional details
Rebecca is a Teaching Fellow / Kaiwhakaako in Te Tari Kikokiko / Department of Anatomy, and teaches a wide range of topics in 100- and 200-level papers.
Originally from Wellington, Rebecca holds a PhD in Cellular and Molecular Biology from the University of Glasgow, and recently completed a Master of Higher Education with distinction from Otago. In 2018, Rebecca received both a University of Otago Award for Excellence in Teaching and an Ako Aotearoa National Tertiary Teaching Award for Sustained Excellence.
Sustained Excellence Award video
She is committed to instilling a passion for science in her students and creating a supportive and inclusive learning environment, and is a Kaiāwhina Māori for Anatomy. Her research interests reflect her learner-centric approach, with focus on first year experience and student belonging, retention of knowledge and educational technology. She is a founding member of ASERT (Anatomical Sciences Education Research Team).
Rebecca is also currently on part-time secondment (0.4FTE until the end of 2020) to Te Tari Tuata / Office of Student Success where she is a Research Fellow / Kairuruku.
Publications
Young, C. D., Taumoepeau, M. M., Hohmann-Marriott, B. E., Girling, J. E., & Bird, R. J. (2023). Sexual and reproductive health knowledges: A study with Pacific young people enrolled in an Aotearoa New Zealand tertiary institution. Culture, Health & Sexuality. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1080/13691058.2023.2201356
Young, C. D., Bird, R. J., Hohmann-Marriott, B. E., Girling, J. E., & Taumoepeau, M. M. (2022). The revitalised Fonofale as a research paradigm: A perspective on Pacific sexuality and reproduction research. Pacific Dynamics, 6(2), 186-201. doi: 10.26021/13507
Flack, N. A. M. S., Frost, K., Aravazhi, S., Macmillan, A., Blyth, P., Woodley, S. J., Nicholson, H. D., Hurren, B. J., & Bird, R. J. (2022). "Thank you for your sacrifice, I will try to make sure your donation wasn't in vain": Undergraduate science students' perceptions on the use of cadaveric material in learning anatomy. Education Sciences, 12, 451. doi: 10.3390/educsci12070451
Bird, R. J., Wibowo, E., Fitzgerald, R. P., Murray, K., Beres, M. A., & Girling, J. E. (2022). Teaching reproduction, gender and sexuality: Broad, multidisciplinary and nuanced. Sex Education, 22(2), 228-241. doi: 10.1080/14681811.2020.1845643
Daniel, B. K., & Bird, R. (2019). Attention! Student voice: Providing students with digital learning materials before scheduled lectures improves learning experience. Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology, 18(3), 1-9.
Young, C. D., Taumoepeau, M. M., Hohmann-Marriott, B. E., Girling, J. E., & Bird, R. J. (2023). Sexual and reproductive health knowledges: A study with Pacific young people enrolled in an Aotearoa New Zealand tertiary institution. Culture, Health & Sexuality. Advance online publication. doi: 10.1080/13691058.2023.2201356
Journal - Research Article
Bird, R. J., Wibowo, E., Fitzgerald, R. P., Murray, K., Beres, M. A., & Girling, J. E. (2022). Teaching reproduction, gender and sexuality: Broad, multidisciplinary and nuanced. Sex Education, 22(2), 228-241. doi: 10.1080/14681811.2020.1845643
Journal - Research Article
Flack, N. A. M. S., Frost, K., Aravazhi, S., Macmillan, A., Blyth, P., Woodley, S. J., Nicholson, H. D., Hurren, B. J., & Bird, R. J. (2022). "Thank you for your sacrifice, I will try to make sure your donation wasn't in vain": Undergraduate science students' perceptions on the use of cadaveric material in learning anatomy. Education Sciences, 12, 451. doi: 10.3390/educsci12070451
Journal - Research Article
Young, C. D., Bird, R. J., Hohmann-Marriott, B. E., Girling, J. E., & Taumoepeau, M. M. (2022). The revitalised Fonofale as a research paradigm: A perspective on Pacific sexuality and reproduction research. Pacific Dynamics, 6(2), 186-201. doi: 10.26021/13507
Journal - Research Article
Daniel, B. K., & Bird, R. (2019). Attention! Student voice: Providing students with digital learning materials before scheduled lectures improves learning experience. Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology, 18(3), 1-9.
Journal - Research Article
McDonald, J., Bird, R. J., Zouaq, A., & Moskal, A. C. M. (2017). Short answers to deep questions: Supporting teachers in large-class settings. Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 33(4), 306-319. doi: 10.1111/jcal.12178
Journal - Research Article
Bird, R. J., & Hurren, B. J. (2016). Anatomical and clinical aspects of Klinefelter's syndrome. Clinical Anatomy, 29(5), 606-619. doi: 10.1002/ca.22695
Journal - Research Article
Yarwood, S. J., Parnell, E., & Bird, R. J. (2017). The cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase 4D5 (PDE4D5)/receptor for activated C-kinase 1 (RACK1) signalling complex as a sensor of the extracellular nano-environment. Cellular Signaling, 35, 282-289. doi: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2017.01.013
Journal - Research Other