COVID has clearly impacted higher education in a major way. What projects or initiatives are you working on in response to these challenging times?
I have been leading a project to revise the approach to teaching at Griffith College. This has meant researching how students learn today, and how best to provide greater flexibility through the deployment of digital instructional technologies. Project Digital Uplift (PDU) is anticipated to enhance the student experience and deepen learning outcomes for all students. This is achieved through adopting a student-centred learning design that optimises digital capability, and enhanced integration of media and technology, resulting in a personalised learning experience and having a fresh ‘value add’ proposition to take to the market.
Embracing this student-centred learning design has meant reconceptualising how a student can evidence their learning (assessment) that assures knowledge-gathering in alignment with the stated learning outcomes. Learning content can now be delivered in bite-sized chunks prior to the synchronous delivery of the learning experience.
What are some of the things you consider most important for the wellbeing of teachers?
Belief of self-worth and self-capacity are most important for the wellbeing of a teacher. You need to believe that you are a great teacher and that you have the capacity to adjust swiftly and responsively to your student’s needs, and to environmental and contextual change.
Which of the Navitas values resonates with you most and why?
Conviction. For me passion and purpose are critical to everything we do. Early in my career I learned to think with both my head and heart and not just one or the other. Sometimes I get that right and sometimes I still don’t! But I am not shy in coming forward to share my passion and purpose with others; to build our dreams and bring plans to fruition.
What would you say has been your greatest achievement – both professionally and personally?
My son. I love him dearly and he keeps me grounded. He’s like a little mini-me, which sounds rather narcissistic but seeing mini-me almost daily helps me to reflect on my approach to life and how life might receive me. My greatest achievement is my son without a doubt.
What are some of the biggest things you’ve learnt from working in higher education?
No two students are the same. While many students display similar characteristics when it comes to their learning, at the end of the day, each student is unique. They have a voice and are on a path that crosses ours momentarily or in some cases for a little longer than all anticipated.
You need to be resilient and swift to respond to change. Be prepared to take a risk and run with it; be bold enough to take a risk when you believe strongly enough about something.
What does the Navitas purpose of transforming lives through education mean to you?
It has personal resonance for me, as my postgraduate study is what enabled me to immigrate and forge a career internationally. I completed a 4-year teaching diploma, which gave me a pathway into university study and before I knew it, I had completed an Honours, Masters then a Doctorate! Education did and continues to transform my life.