Technology and Learning Research (AARE)

In this episode we chat to Dr Matthew Harrison from the University of Melbourne, and explore how cooperative video games can build teamwork, negotiation, and social capability in neurodivergent learners. We also explore strength-based, interest-driven learning to genuine co-design with neurodivergent students and offer practical insights for inclusive classrooms. The episode also tackles the reali...

Dr Ellie Meissner sits down with Dr Simone Smala, Senior Lecturer at the University of Queensland, to unpack what artificial intelligence really means for teachers, students, and literacy in today’s classrooms. The conversation explores how teachers are using AI for everything from lesson planning to communication, the ongoing concerns around bias and professional learning, and Simone’s innovative...

Shea Rigney's Master of Research thesis examines the complex landscape of digital game-based learning in NSW secondary history education, revealing critical disconnects between pedagogical potential and classroom reality. Through mixed-methods research involving surveys, interviews, and policy analysis, her findings expose how well-intentioned teachers default to quiz-based platforms like Kah...

In this episode, Dr Ellie Meissner speaks with Professor Federica Fornaciari about what educators need to know as AI rapidly reshapes teaching and learning. Together they unpack how media literacy now demands far more than spotting fake news, it requires helping students question sources, evaluate intent, understand digital identity, and recognise bias in AI-generated content. Federica shares prac...

In this episode of the Technology and Learning Podcast, host Ellie Manzari from Monash University speaks with Dr Emily Ross (University of Queensland) and Dr Margaret Marshman (University of the Sunshine Coast) about their recent research on integrating digital technologies in mathematics classrooms. Dr Emily Ross is Deputy Director of Teaching and Learning, Director of Primary Programs, and Lectu...

In between PhD data sets, teacher educator Katie Wilson took on a small reflective project with her first-year students — and what she found was bigger than expected. In this episode, Katie (a lecturer at ACU in Brisbane) shares how tracking pre-service teachers’ digital confidence across a semester opened up unexpected insights about capability, curriculum, and identity. Grounded in ACARA’s digit...

Dr Lynette Pretorius is an award-winning educator and researcher who interlaces imagination and insight to reimagine what higher education can be. Drawing on her interdisciplinary expertise, she weaves together diverse ideas, lived experiences, and pedagogical innovations to create inclusive and transformative learning environments. Lynette has extensive experience teaching across undergraduate, p...

In this episode Natalie McMaster speaks with Dr Juliana Peloche, Senior Learning Advisor and AI researcher, about her unique journey into the world of artificial intelligence in education. In this podcast Juliana discusses the importance of AI literacy—not only for students, but for academics who are often underprepared to guide AI use in classrooms. She emphasizes the need for cross-sector collab...

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Michael J. Henderson, a former electrical engineer turned educator whose lifelong fascination with technology began with a crystal radio set and evolved into a career spanning decades of innovation, education, and digital transformation. From early computing in the 1970s to current explorations with AI and data analytics in education, Michael shares how inform...

This episode focuses on how Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) are being used innovatively in primary school classrooms to enhance teaching, learning, and assessment. Niamh shares practical examples where these technologies have created immersive, interactive environments that support student understanding and engagement, particularly in subjects such as science, geography, and mathem...

In this episode we talk to David Dixon, Senior Creative Developer, Visualisation in the Centre for Learning and Teaching (CLT) at the University of the Sunshine Coast. David discusses the innovative application of immersive technologies—such as virtual reality, mixed reality, and large-scale 3D visualisation in the Cave—in enhancing teaching and learning across a variety of disciplines. He provide...

Dr Jo Blannin, along with a team from Monash University and the University of Melbourne, are leading an ARC Discovery Project exploring the impact of AI on teachers and teaching practices. In this podcast, she discusses the evolving role of AI in education, emphasising its integration into learning management systems and everyday teaching tools. While AI is often framed around student learning, he...

Dr Hilary Wheaton is the Principal Advisor for Educational Practice, in the Education Portfolio, at RMIT University. Hilary plays a key role in shaping university-wide initiatives, recently focusing on curriculum design, academic integrity, and AI strategy. She developed RMIT’s Academic Integrity Framework and the institutional response to GenAI technologies like ChatGPT. In 2024, she co-authored...

In this episode, we dive into the "3C Model"—a teaching pedagogy reshaping how coding and computational thinking skills are taught in primary schools. Join us while we talk to Peter Curtis, a teacher and researcher with the University of the Sunshine Coast who developed the 3C Model. Peter's teaching and research  interests include mathematics, science  and technology. He has recent...

Carla DeMarco has had a 30+ year career at the University of Toronto, working in a variety of roles in communications at OISE, the U of T Magazine , Advancement and Public Affairs, as well as at U of T Mississauga in the Offices of the Vice-Principal, Research, and the Vice-Principal, Academic and Dean.  In 2016, Carla conceived, created, and launched the podcast VIEW to the U: an eye on the UTM a...

In this episode, we explore transformative innovations in online learning and assessment that bring uniqueness and attractiveness to online education in higher ed. Over the past decade, technology has significantly reshaped teaching, moving beyond traditional methods to create more dynamic and engaging learning environments. Dr. Rose Babaee from UCLA, with over ten years of experience in higher ed...

In this episode, we explore the fascinating world of artificial intelligence (AI) and its impact on academic writing. Our guest, Sandie Elsom, Lecturer in Technology Education and AI enthusiast, discusses the challenges of distinguishing AI-generated text from human writing and explores the implications for academic integrity. We'll uncover the linguistic features that often differentiate AI-...

In this episode, we focus on the remarkable impact of online education in conflict zones. Our guest, David Falconer, is the Founder and Executive Director of Classrooms Without Walls (CWW), a Canadian organization that has been providing free online education to children living in these challenging environments. Since its inception in November 2022, CWW has launched three programs to support child...

Today we're chatting on a topic that's crucial for anyone in the field of education research or anyone curious about quality survey construction and robust survey scale validation. We're talking about Rasch model analysis with Associate Professor Michael Carey. He uses a cake baking metaphor to explain how the Rasch model technique is applied to survey design and validation in plain...

Dr Geoffrey Chapman is a lecturer at CQU in Sydney and passionate about gamification. He has introduced his love for escape rooms into his tertiary classroom. During Covid, he translated them into the online learning space and is now using them in his postgraduate teaching. They are great for team building, clear objectives and a bit of time pressure. His students love them. Get in touch with Geof...