Dr. Joanne O'Mara |
 |
|
| Position | Senior Lecturer | |
| joanne.omara@deakin.edu.au | ||
| Area | School of Education | |
| Phone | +61 3 924 46783 | |
| Campus | Burwood | |
| Location | N 3.20 | |
| Teaching responsibilities |
I chair the English teaching method subjects (English Education A, English Education B, Teaching Children’s Literature in the Classroom and Language and New Technologies) and also teach in the Masters research units. I supervise a wide range of Masters projects and PhD students, most of which are aligned to my own work, and some of whom use arts-based methodologies such as theatre performance and art exhibition as part of their research process. I currently have 2 Masters research students and 8 PhD students (4 Principal, 4 Associate). I believe that you have to start with where people are at and try to take them where they need to/want to go. This “student-centred” approach to learning and teaching in the context of my class-based teaching means considering firstly where the class is at as a group and then specifically where individuals are tracking. With my post-graduate teaching with Higher Degree Research students it means getting to know their working style closely, so that I (and other members of the supervision team) can best help them to draw on their strengths to work towards their goals. |
|
| Research interests |
My research program investigates innovative pedagogy and practices and the spatial and temporal dimensions of teachers’ work. I have a particular interest in the areas of new literacies studies and the arts and am passionate about my ongoing series of research projects in the areas of drama education pedagogy and practices, digital games, emergent literacies and new textual practices. |
|
| Current research projects |
Australian Research Council Linkage Project Serious play: using digital games in school to promote literacy and learning in the twenty-first century ARC Linkage Grant 2011-2014 $222,057 Chief investigators:Prof Catherine A Beavis ; Dr Michael L Dezuanni; Dr Joanne A O'Mara; Dr Sarah Prestridge; Dr Leonie O Rowan; Prof Claire M Wyatt-Smith; Dr Jason A Zagami; Prof Yam San Chee Industry partner: Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development and a number of state and primary schools Deakin University LP0775072 A/Prof CA Beavis; Prof CM Bradford; Dr JA O'Mara; Dr C Walsh Literacy in the digital world of the twenty-first century: learning from computer games Department of Education & Training Australian Centre for the Moving Image The Victorian Association for the Teaching of English Collaborating/Partner Organisation(s) Deakin University The creation of a literate and tech-savvy workforce and community is essential to Australia's future prosperity. By helping teachers better understand and teach ICT-enabled forms of text and literacy, drawing on insights from young people's actual engagement with digital culture in their leisure hours, the project will help strengthen young Australians' capacity to critically evaluate and use ICTs for effective learning and communication. This project will help produce the skills, knowledge and orientations necessary to create smart information use, through developing and strengthening young people's uses and understandings of ICT-based forms of text and literacy. |
|
| Service to the University, discipline or community |
2012: Victorian Association for the Teaching of English: Council Member | |
| Qualifications |
PhD, Griffith University, Brisbane Thesis Title: Unravelling the Mystery: A Study of Reflection-in-Action in Process Drama Teaching Master of Education The University of Melbourne Licentiate of Trinity College, (Speech and Drama) Trinity College, London Bachelor of Education, Victoria College, Rusden Campus |
|
| Research link | View Deakin associated research data | |
| Additional URLs | ||
Find Deakin on:
22nd April 2013