Perspectives in Parryville

Today my guest is Dr Sharon Kerr, an educator and researcher specialising in inclusive curriculum for students with a disability utilising assistive technologies and the training of community service professionals. Sharon has had over 30 years experience working with students with a wide range of disabilities. She is widely recognised as having expertise in maximising student engagement for studen...

Today my guest is Dr Michael Harvey, a Science Teacher from New Zealand. In this episode, Michael outlines aspects of New Zealand - or kiwi - culture, including Maori language. We also explore Michael’s previous role as an industrial research Chemist and the evolution into his current role as a high school teacher. With a strong interest in how technology can transform teaching & learning, Michael...

Today my guest is Lottie Dowling, a global educator specialising in languages, culture, digital technologies and teacher professional learning. Much of Lottie’s work revolves around global citizenship, that is, how school students are increasingly interconnected with others across the world. This episode offers insights into some of Lottie’s collaborative approaches and practices as she works with...

Today my guest is Kat Montagu, a Screenwriter and Instructor. In this episode we find out more about the precise, nuanced territory of screenplays, or more specifically, screenplay formatting that is designed to ensure that a screenplay not only tells an engaging story but also communicates the more technical details used in film and television productions. Kat provides insights into some of the i...

Today my guest is Steven Kolber, Teacher, Writer & Researcher from Melbourne, Australia. Steven is one of 50 finalists in the Global Teacher Prize, 2021. In this episode we explore Steven’s role as an English and Humanities teacher at a public, Government high school. We also find out how, driven by a fundamental enjoyment of learning, Steven works globally with technology, instructional video and...

Today my guest is Alister Lockhart, an Illustrator and Digital Artist. Since Alister’s work is highly visual, you might like to explore some of his artwork as we listen. You can find images and videos on his website: alisterlockhart.net (there’s link in the show notes. In this episode, we explore demons, goblins, and superheroes and capturing their form in illustrations and digital art. In our con...

Today my guest is Liron Gilmore, a Multi-disciplinary Artist. Since Liron’s work is highly visual, you might like to explore some of her art works as we listen. You can find images on her website: lirongilmore.com or instagram (there’s links to these in the show notes). In this episode we explore the use of fibre and textiles in art marking, including the techniques of machine-sewing, the value of...

Today my guest is Keith Heggart, a Civics & Citizenship Educator & Researcher. In our conversation, we explore civics and citizenship education in schools, that is, the way that students learn to take part in society. Keith offers insights into a range of teaching and learning approaches including the design of an interdisciplinary and integrated curriculum. Keith outlines how students that grow t...

Today my guest is Joyce Matthews, a Facilitator, Trainer and Writer from Scotland. Joyce works with leaders across the world, developing their skills, confidence and competence in andragogy - that is, teaching and leading adults. In our conversation we explore how Joyce supports participants to “find their own why” as they create their own route through their educational programs, correlating with...

Today my guest is Sandy Nicoll - Dr Sandy - a Teacher Educator & Researcher. In her PhD thesis, Sandy asked the question: How do pre-service teachers engage students in learning during professional experience? in a process of narrative inquiry. The simple, yet profound ideas and practicalities around student engagement continue to inform Sandy’s enthusiastic, ongoing research and professional inte...

Today my guest is Jane Messer, a writer, former Associate Professor in Creative Writing, and mentor for fiction and nonfiction authors. In this episode, we explore Jane’s early fascination with storytelling, leading to further study in literature, sociology and philosophy. Jane has published novels and anthologies of world literature, radio dramas, short stories and most recently, a narrative vide...

Today my guest is Sarah White, a Conversation Analyst and Lecturer. In her research, Sarah studies the often-unspoken rules of language and how people, in conversations, use words, phrases, tone of voice and even pauses. Much of the focus of Sarah’s research is conversation analysis in healthcare, for example, interactions between surgeons and patients in a clinic. In our conversation, Sarah outli...

Today my guest is Professor Ronika Power, a Bioarchaeologist and teacher. Ronika’s research revolves around human skeletal and mummified remains from diverse populations across the world. Ronika's team made the cover of Nature for research that was named as one of the Top Ten Discoveries of 2016 by Archaeology Magazine. In this episode, we chat about Ronika’s very early interest and fascination wi...

Today my guest is Heather MacDonald, an Education Specialist and Primary School Teacher. Heather has been designing, developing and implementing education programs and strategies for non-profit and other organisations for over 20 years. In this episode we explore a range of global sporting events, including the Olympic and Paralympic Games and how they provide a meaningful, engaging and practical...

Today my guest is Astrid Pickup, a Yoga Teacher and President of the International Yoga Teachers Association. In this episode we explore the ancient practice of yoga and its place within contemporary western culture. Astrid reflects on her early enthusiasm for physical activities and outdoor sports such as hockey, cross-country skiing, canyoning and rock climbing, which lead to the physical techni...

Today my guest is Associate Professor Kelly Matthews, a teacher and Academic Researcher at The University of Queensland’s Institute for Teaching & Learning Innovation. Kelly asks: Why can’t students be more involved in curriculum and assessment decisions? In this episode we look at Students as Partners, currently a growing practice in higher education that challenges assumptions about the role of...

Today my guest is Associate Professor Marina Harvey, an Academic Researcher and Director of Academic Development Services at the University of New South Wales. Over the past decade, Marina and her team have researched student reflection and how it is used to support learning and teaching. In this episode we look at the value of higher-order thinking skills, such as reflection, in a rapidly changin...

Today my guest is Dara Sampson, a Social Worker, Teacher and Researcher. Dara uses fiction, and other literature, in her social work teaching. Her creative and innovative “book club” approach, which she used as her form of action research for her PhD encourages and supports a safe and comfortable context for students to develop empathy, critical thinking and interpersonal skills. Dara’s approach,...

Today my guest is Paul McKercher, a music Recordist, Producer and Mixer. Paul has worked with many Australian and international artists and has been awarded ARIAs for Producer, and Engineer, of the year. In this episode, Paul shares formative memories of playing guitar and cello, lessons learned whilst working at ABC and radio Triple J and insights into the creative and professional dynamics at pl...

Today my guest is Vicki Cornish, a Fibre Artist and teacher from Newcastle, New South Wales. Vicki creates contemporary textiles with ancient tools and techniques. Her craft practice focuses on hand spinning, weaving and stitching using natural fibres and low impact methods of processing and dyeing. Vicki also has a particular interest in historical tools and techniques, including those used by Vi...

Today my guest is Matt Cosgrove, an Australian author and illustrator of children’s books. Some of Matt’s recent work includes the “Macca the Alpaca” series of books, along with other favourites like “Attack of the Giant Robot Zombie Mermaid”, which is part of the “Epic Fail Tales” series. In this episode we explore Matt’s love of art and design and his earliest memories of drawing and illustratio...

Today my guest is Adam Dunn an Associate Professor in the Centre for Health Informatics at Macquarie University. Adam his team use informatics and social media data in their clinical research related to public health. Informatics - the structure, behaviour and interactions of natural and engineered computational systems - is very much related to the idea of a single butterfly flapping its wings to...

Today my guest is Amanda Howard, who is an Associate Professor at The University of Sydney’s School of Education and Social Work. Amanda’s teaching and research relates to social work: that is, the social connections and dynamics found when groups of people – communities - come together and do things. We chat about the importance of social work in understanding how human systems and structures wor...

Today my guest is Renee Brack, a screen & media creative and communicator with a passion for eclectic and engaging stories across print, television, film, radio and digital. Renee’s YouTube channel has racked up over 1.3 million views driven by her unique approach to interviews. Renee is a Writer, Producer, Director, Interviewer and Researcher. She’s also a Lecturer and Seminar Moderator working a...

Today my guest is Jo Anne Rey, a teacher-librarian, author and researcher. Jo is also a Dharug community member; Dharug Country covers the majority of Sydney, Australia. In this episode we explore Jo’s Australian Indigenous identity, her research approach and methodologies and her family storying as woven into Sydney’s Dharug and colonial heritages. Jo’s storying is the basis of her recent doctora...