IERI aims to improve educational outcomes for all learners, especially young people and those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The Interdisciplinary Educational Research Institute (IERI) is a Research Strength of the University of Wollongong. IERI currently has 57 full or associate members and more than110 higher-degree research students across the faculties of education, psychology, health sciences, arts and creative arts.
From 2009 to 2012, IERI members were awarded more than $5 million in competitive grants and contract funding, including eight ARC/NHMRC grants and fellowships. IERI is currently ranked in the top 4 UOW Research Strength based on research income, thesis completions, and publications. In the area of publications, over seven IERI researchers have an average number of citations per paper greater than 10. Over this same period, IERI members have published a number of high impact publications (a total of 36 in 2011) in top journals such as Research in Science Education, Curriculum Inquiry, Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, Human-Computer Interaction, and the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.
Our research comprises four intersecting themes, with a proven track record of collaboration among researchers from different disciplines across all four themes. These themes are:
- Learning, Design, and Technologies;
- Physical Activity and Nutrition;
- Languages and Literacy; and
- Social Inclusion
Each theme is embedded within a range of research settings that encapsulate the breadth of expertise currently within the Institute. These settings include early childhood, primary and secondary schools, community, and adult education (vocational, professional and higher education).
Importantly, this research has had an important impact on policy and practice, not only in the communities with which our researchers work, but nationally and internationally. Recent ways in which IERI’s research has broadly impacted educational policy and practice include:
Disseminating our important research to key stakeholders:
- Organising and delivering a free Showcase Day event for teachers, attended by over 100 delegates, which highlighted the latest advances in educational research and innovative classroom applications;
- Regularly delivering keynote presentations at prestigious international conferences
Impacting national policy:
- Currently leading the research consortium that is updating the National Physical Activity Recommendations for school-aged children and adolescents;
- Recently leading the development of the National Physical Activity Recommendations for children 0-5 years;
- Part of the team evaluating the Stephanie Alexander National Kitchen Garden Project
Impacting practice:
- “Slowmation”, created by A/Prof Garry Hoban, is a simplified way for students to design and make a stop-motion animation to explain a concept or tell a story. It is now being used in science education courses in at least 8 Australian Universities, 14 overseas universities, and schools around the world. Since 2010, the slowmation website (www.slowmation.com) has received more than 7 million visits from users in over 65 different countries.
events: conferences, seminars, & workshops
Student Presentations
Lalia Hafez and Kathryn Harden-thew
For more information, click here.
Wednesday 29 May @12:30
Dr. Shoshana Dreyfus - University of Sydney
Wednesday 5 June @ 12:30
See the full schedule for the
LAtest Headlines: news & media
Congratulations to Tony Okely