Dr Kathy Smith

Dr Kathy Smith

Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education, Monash University

Dr Kathy Smith is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education Monash University specialising in primary science education. Her research has focused on science education and teacher professional learning with a particular interest in understanding the conditions which build teacher capacity for self-directed learning and development. Kathy is project lead for the ARC Linkage project 'Exploring Problem Based Learning in Schools'.

6 total results
Promoting student agency through PBL in STEM
Promoting student agency through PBL in STEM

In the final article of a series about a 3-year Australian research project into Problem Based Learning in school-based STEM education, 2 of the teachers who are co-researchers in the project – Melissa Gatt and Frank Fabri – discuss student agency as a necessary condition for meaningful STEM learning.

PBL in STEM – enhancing learning and teaching
PBL in STEM – enhancing learning and teaching

In the second of 3 articles about research into Problem Based Learning in schools, teachers involved in the project discuss how it has enabled them to reconsider their classroom practice and the conditions necessary for meaningful STEM learning.

Teachers as co-researchers – understanding the teacher experience
Teachers as co-researchers – understanding the teacher experience

In the first of 3 articles about a new Australian project researching Problem Based Learning in schools, Associate Professor Kathy Smith and Dr Jennifer Mansfield discuss the role of teachers as co-researchers and share educator insights on 4 key aspects of the experience.

Learning from lockdown – teacher wellbeing
Learning from lockdown – teacher wellbeing

The Knox School has been working with academics to research what teachers learned from the lockdown experience. In this final article of a three-part series, middle leader Melodie Matheson shares how teacher wellbeing became a transformative influence on her leadership.

Learning from lockdown – redefining school community collaboration
Learning from lockdown – redefining school community collaboration

The Knox School has worked with Monash University to research what teachers would like to take forward (and leave behind) from the remote learning experience. Three key areas of change were identified. This second article in a series focuses on school community collaboration.

Learning from lockdown – a catalyst for teacher agency
Learning from lockdown – a catalyst for teacher agency

The Knox School has worked with Monash University to research what teachers would like to take forward (and leave behind) from the remote learning experience. This three-part reader submission looks at key areas of change, starting with teacher agency.