Biography
Russell Tytler is Alfred Deakin Professor and Chair in Science Education at Deakin University, Melbourne. He has a background lecturing and teaching physics. He has researched and written extensively on student learning and reasoning in science. He has been influential on science curricula in Australia and is involved in a range of Department of Education teacher professional learning initiatives. His interest in the role of representation as a multimodal language for reasoning in science extends to pedagogy and teacher learning. He researches and writes on student engagement with science and mathematics, socio scientific issues and reasoning, school-community partnerships, and STEM curriculum policy and practice. He is widely published and has been chief investigator on a range of ARC and other research projects, including current projects investigating interdisciplinary mathematics and science pedagogy, representing contemporary science R&D in schools to support an informed Climate Change Education, and directing an innovative program for the Victorian DET for out-of-field teachers of science and mathematics. He is a member of the Science Expert Group for PISA 2015 and 2025 and represents the OECD on an international STEM skills forum. He was deputy chair of an influential Chief Scientist initiated ‘STEM Country Comparisons’ project. He is a Fellow of the Academy of social Sciences in Australia.
Read more on Russell's profileResearch interests
- Guided inquiry pedagogies representing contemporary scientific practices
- The multimodal languages of sciences including material and embodied practices
- Sociosemiotic perspectives on student reasoning and learning
- Socioscientific issues, and climate change education
- Aesthetics and learning in science
- Interdisciplinary STEM Education
- Methodological innovation in STEM Education
Teaching interests
I have had a range of teaching positions, including as a Lecturer in Physics in Australia and Africa, and 10 years as a science teacher and coordinator in a secondary school. I have a strong interest in innovation in science teaching and science teacher education, with a particular focus on supporting reasoning in science, and the generation of authentic settings and inquiry approaches in the teaching and learning of science.
In schools, this led to involvement with the Science Teachers' Association in raising the profile of student investigative projects in the science curriculum, and in pioneering a negotiated subject on 'issues in science'. I have worked with primary and secondary teachers on a range of research projects and professional learning projects, and have been involved in system wide curriculum generation and writing in the area of curriculum reform and teacher pedagogy, including the influential monograph "Re-imagining Science Education' .
At Deakin I set up a school based science teacher education approach in which pre-service teachers are responsible for teaching small groups of primary school students as part of the workshop, and reflect on that process. This initiative has been in place for 30 years, and has spawned further work of this kind.
Current interests in promoting innovative teaching and learning in schools through researching with teachers include:
- Guided inquiry pedagogies involving students reasoning through constructing representations
- Teaching and learning socio-scientific issues
- Interdisciplinary STEM approaches
- Climate Change education focused on student agency
I am supervisor or associate supervisor for a number of PhD students in science, mathematics and environmental education and am particularly interested to work with PhD students in the area of student reasoning and learning, and pedagogy in science and mathematics, teacher learning, and climate change education.
Publications
No publications found
Funded Projects at Deakin
Australian Competitive Grants
Improving middle years mathematics and science: The role of subject cultures in school and teacher change.
Prof Russell Tytler, Hon Prof Susie Groves, Prof Annette Gough
ARC Linkage - Projects Rnd 2 APAI
- 2006: $49,294
The role of representation in learning science
Prof Russell Tytler, Prof Vaughan Prain, A/Prof Bruce Waldrip, A/Prof Peter Hubber
ARC - Discovery Projects
- 2009: $115,728
- 2008: $91,582
- 2007: $100,304
Enhancing the Quality of Science Learning through a Representation-intensive Pedagogy
Prof Russell Tytler, Prof Vaughan Prain, A/Prof Garry Hoban, A/Prof Peter Aubusson, A/Prof Peter Hubber
ARC - Discovery Projects
- 2019: $15,118
- 2014: $19,826
- 2013: $19,882
- 2012: $61,386
Developing digital pedagogies in inquiry science through a cloud-based teaching and learning environment
A/Prof Peter Hubber, Prof Russell Tytler, Daniel Pikler, Peter Laver
ARC Linkage - Projects
- 2016: $37,756
- 2015: $80,344
- 2014: $83,825
- 2013: $43,904
The Science of Learning Research Centre
Prof Ottmar Lipp, Prof Russell Tytler
ARC Special Research Initiatives
- 2016: $130,000
- 2015: $130,000
- 2014: $180,000
Reconceptualising mathematics and science teacher education programs through collaborative partnerships between scientists and educators - RemSTEP
Prof Stephen Dinham, A/Prof David Clarke, A/Prof Michelle Livett, A/Prof Deborah Corrigan, A/Prof Cristina Varsavsky, Prof Russell Tytler, A/Prof Stuart Palmer, Prof Vaughan Prain, A/Prof Elizabeth Johnson
OLT Innovation and Development Grants - Office for Learning and Teaching
- 2016: $161,918
- 2015: $176,850
- 2014: $191,223
Out-of-field Teaching: Sustaining Quality Practices Across Subjects
Prof Linda Hobbs, Dr Whannell Robert, Prof Russell Tytler, A/Prof Colleen Vale, Dr Frances Quinn, Prof Coral Campbell, Dr Terry Lyons, Prof Colleen Vale
ARC - Discovery Projects
- 2017: $60,257
- 2016: $39,278
- 2015: $43,250
Improving Regional Low SES Students Learning and Wellbeing
Prof Damian Blake, Prof Russell Tytler, Dr Craig Deed, Dr Tracey Muir, Prof Amanda Mooney, Mr Damon Thomas, A/Prof Karen Swabey
ARC Linkage - Projects
- 2019: $199
- 2018: $1,342
- 2017: $71,820
- 2016: $39,408
Multiliteracies for addressing disadvantage in senior school science
Prof Len Unsworth, Prof Russell Tytler, Emmaleen Oakley, Sally Humphrey, Robert Dullard, Ms Bates Marnie, Dr Lisl Fenwick, Ms Tamara Brennan
ARC Linkage - Projects
- 2019: $11,502
- 2018: $23,004
- 2017: $23,004
Enriching mathematics and science learning: an interdisciplinary approach
Prof Russell Tytler, Prof Joanne Mulligan, Dr Lihua Xu, A/Prof Peta White, A/Prof Leona Schauble, Prof Richard Lehrer
ARC - Discovery Projects
- 2020: $143,869
- 2019: $157,568
- 2018: $154,533
Enacting Climate Change Education through representing scientists' practice
Prof Russell Tytler, A/Prof Peta White, Prof Ying-Shao Hsu, Prof Maija Aksela
ARC - Discovery Projects
- 2024: $52,888
- 2023: $130,539
Other Public Sector Funding
Improving middle years mathematics and science: The role of subject cultures in school and teacher change.
Prof Russell Tytler, Hon Prof Susie Groves, Prof Annette Gough
DETVic Department of Education and Training Victoria
- 2008: $9,131
- 2006: $14,609
Identification and dissemination of exemplary ASISTM Project Practices
Prof Russell Tytler, Mr Craig Smith
DEST Grant - Research - Department of Education, Science and Training
- 2007: $42,982
- 2006: $11,318
Supports and barriers to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) engagement in Primary-Secondary transition
Prof Russell Tytler, Prof Jonathan Osborne, Dr Helen Forgasz, Dr Gaye Williams
DEET Grant - Research - Department of Education, Employment and Training
- 2008: $75,858
Victorian SiMERR Hub
Prof Russell Tytler, A/Prof Judith Mousley, Dr Heather Mays
SiMERR Grant - Victoria Hubb - Uni New England - Nat Centre of Science, Info & CommunTech & Maths Education for R
- 2007: $40,000
- 2006: $48,000
Delivery of the Switched on Secondary Science Professional Learning program
A/Prof Peter Hubber, Prof Russell Tytler, Dr Gail Chittleborough, Dr Wendy Jobling, Dr Laura Barraza, Prof Coral Campbell
DEECD Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
- 2012: $55,445
- 2011: $150,716
- 2010: $23,845
Design of the Switched on Secondary Science Professional Learning Program (SOSSPL)
A/Prof Peter Hubber, Prof Russell Tytler, Prof Coral Campbell, Dr Gail Chittleborough, Dr Wendy Jobling, Dr Laura Barraza
DEECD Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
- 2010: $35,760
A short cycle model for school improvement in Barwon South Network
Dr Shaun Rawolle, Prof Russell Tytler, Prof Coral Campbell, Prof Louise Paatsch, Dr Muriel Wells
DEECD Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
- 2012: $69,600
- 2011: $46,400
Evaluation of the National Partnerships (Teacher, Quality, Supply and Retention) Initiatives for the Victorian school workforce
Prof Brenton Doecke, Prof Russell Tytler, Adj/Prof Christine Halse, Dr Brian Doig, Prof Julianne Moss, Prof Damian Blake, A/Prof Peter Hubber, Prof Coral Campbell, AsPr Anne-Marie Morrissey, A/Prof Bernadette Walker-Gibbs, Dr Wendy Kortman, Mr Alan Marshall, Ms Barbara Preston, Dr Jodie Kline, A/Prof Glenn Auld, Prof Linda Hobbs
DEECD Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
- 2013: $190,500
- 2012: $25,500
- 2011: $52,800
Primary Science Specialist Professional Learning Program
Prof Coral Campbell, Dr Gail Chittleborough, A/Prof Peter Hubber, Dr John Cripps Clark, Prof Russell Tytler, Dr Laura Barraza, Dr Wendy Jobling, Dr Sandra Herbert
DEECD Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
- 2012: $40,866
- 2011: $95,354
Pilot Tech Next Mid-Year intake - selection, recruitment & placement of participants (Phase 1) & course delivery (Phase 2)
Prof Damian Blake, Prof Russell Tytler, Prof Chris Hickey, A/Prof Alex Kostogriz, A/Prof Peter Hubber, Prof Brenton Doecke, Dr Gaye Williams, Dr Gail Chittleborough
DEEWR Tender - Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations
- 2012: $439,514
2013 Primary Science Specialists Professional Learning Program
Prof Coral Campbell, Prof Russell Tytler, A/Prof Peter Hubber, Dr Wendy Jobling, Dr Laura Barraza, Dr John Cripps Clark, Dr Sandra Herbert, Prof Linda Hobbs
DEECD Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
- 2013: $78,086
2013-14 Primary Science Specialists Professional Learning Program
Prof Coral Campbell, A/Prof Peter Hubber, Dr Wendy Jobling, Dr Laura Barraza, Dr John Cripps Clark, Dr Sandra Herbert, Prof Linda Hobbs, Prof Russell Tytler
DEECD Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
- 2015: $1,600
- 2014: $35,162
- 2013: $82,045
Improving Regional Low SES Students Learning and Wellbeing
Prof Damian Blake, Prof Russell Tytler, Dr Craig Deed, Dr Tracey Muir, Prof Amanda Mooney, Mr Damon Thomas, A/Prof Karen Swabey
Weeroona College Bendigo, Bendigo South East Secondary School, Department of Education and Training Victoria, Crusoe 7-10 Secondary College, Eaglehawk Secondary College, Northern Bay P-12 College
- 2020: $20,690
- 2018: $45,827
- 2017: $9,500
Assessment of impact and value: Scientists and Mathematicians in Schools Program
Prof Russell Tytler, Prof Coral Campbell, Dr Gail Chittleborough, Dr Gaye Williams, A/Prof Peta White, Prof David Symington, Mr Garrett Upstill
CSIRO Consultancy - Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
- 2015: $99,710
Primary Mathematics and Science Specialist Professional Learning Program February/March 2015
Dr Gail Chittleborough, Prof Russell Tytler, Prof Coral Campbell, A/Prof Peter Hubber, Dr Lihua Xu, Dr John Cripps Clark, A/Prof Peta White
DETVic Grant - Research - Department of Education and Training Victoria
- 2015: $6,818
Secondary STEM Catalysts: professional learning program
A/Prof Peter Hubber, Prof Russell Tytler, Prof Coral Campbell, A/Prof Colleen Vale, Dr John Cripps Clark, Prof Linda Hobbs, A/Prof Peta White, Dr Gaye Williams
DETVic Tender - Department of Education and Training Victoria
- 2018: $319,446
- 2017: $295,146
- 2016: $48,403
Birth to Level 10 Numeracy Guide
Dr Leicha Bragg, Prof Russell Tytler, Dr Martin Potter, A/Prof Judith Mousley, Prof Chris Walsh, Prof Kim Beswick, Mr Peter Saffin, Dr Tracey Muir, Dr Greg Oates, Dr Carol Murphy
DETVic Grant - Research - Department of Education and Training Victoria
- 2018: $153,350
Tech Schools Evaluation
Prof Linda Hobbs, Dr John Cripps Clark, Dr Seamus Delaney, A/Prof Peta White, Dr George Aranda, Prof Russell Tytler, Prof Christine Ure, Prof Coral Campbell, Dr Genee Marks
DETVic Grant - Research - Department of Education and Training Victoria
- 2023: $171,346
- 2022: $90,126
- 2021: $89,471
- 2020: $185,724
- 2019: $112,000
Science Teacher Toolkit
A/Prof Peta White, Prof Russell Tytler, Dr Joe Ferguson
DETVic Grant - Research - Department of Education and Training Victoria
- 2021: $12,395
- 2020: $53,803
Secondary Mathematics and Science initiative for out-of-field teachers.
Prof Russell Tytler, A/Prof Jill Brown, A/Prof Peta White, Prof Linda Hobbs, A/Prof Julianne Lynch, Dr Jo Raphael, Dr Carly Sawatzki, A/Prof Wanty Widjaja, Dr Seamus Delaney, Dr John Cripps Clark, Prof Damian Blake
DETVic Grant - Research - Department of Education and Training Victoria
- 2023: $693,244
- 2022: $1,305,002
- 2021: $1,984,010
- 2020: $764,034
CIRCLS - Support program for Secondary Mathematics and Science Initiative.
A/Prof Julianne Lynch, Dr Jo Raphael, Dr Carly Sawatzki, Prof Russell Tytler, A/Prof Jill Brown, A/Prof Peta White
DETVic Grant - Research - Department of Education and Training Victoria
- 2022: $16,823
- 2021: $154,545
Refinement and Validation of Science Inquiry Tasks.
A/Prof Peta White, Prof Russell Tytler
DETVic Grant - Research - Department of Education and Training Victoria
- 2022: $25,424
- 2021: $20,000
Industry and Other Funding
Using ICT to Support Literacy and Numeracy in Rural Schools
Prof Russell Tytler, A/Prof Peter Hubber, Prof Coral Campbell, Dr Gail Chittleborough, Dr Elizabeth Stacey
Assoc Independent Schools of Victoria Consultancy
- 2007: $20,000
- 2006: $30,000
Proposal for evaluation of the BHP Billiton science awards
Prof Russell Tytler, A/Prof Peter Hubber, Prof Coral Campbell, Dr Gail Chittleborough
BHPB Grant - Research - BHP Billiton Group Operations Pty Ltd
- 2010: $13,000
- 2009: $15,000
Developing digital pedagogies in inquiry science through a cloud-based teaching and learning environment
A/Prof Peter Hubber, Prof Russell Tytler, Daniel Pikler, Peter Laver
STILE Education Pty Ltd, AATSE Grant - Research - Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering
- 2015: $26,360
- 2014: $26,080
- 2013: $24,040
Improving Regional Low SES Students Learning and Wellbeing
Prof Damian Blake, Prof Russell Tytler, Dr Craig Deed, Dr Tracey Muir, Prof Amanda Mooney, Mr Damon Thomas, A/Prof Karen Swabey
Anglicare Tasmania Inc., La Trobe University
- 2017: $20,763
- 2016: $1,000
Women in Engineering -literature review
Prof Russell Tytler, A/Prof Stuart Palmer, Dr Mahbub Sarkar
Origin Foundation Pty Ltd
- 2014: $19,800
Wenona School: STEM research
Prof Russell Tytler, A/Prof Peter Hubber, Dr Gaye Williams
Wenona School Ltd
- 2016: $60,180
- 2015: $35,670
The Invergowrie Foundation STEM Report
Prof Russell Tytler, Prof Linda Hobbs, Prof Vaughan Prain, Prof Jan Van Driel, Dr Christine Redman, Dr Victoria Millar
The Invergowrie Foundation
- 2017: $36,075
Top 100 Jobs of the Future
Prof Russell Tytler, A/Prof Peta White, Prof Dineli Mather
Ford Australia
- 2018: $73,000
100 Jobs of the Future Research Extension: Online Aptitude Test
Prof Russell Tytler, A/Prof Peta White, Prof Dineli Mather, Prof Ruth Bridgstock
Ford Australia
- 2018: $36,200
'' Updating and Elaborating on Girls' Future - Our Future''.
Prof Linda Hobbs, Prof Russell Tytler, Prof Coral Campbell
The Invergowrie Foundation
- 2020: $20,585
- 2019: $20,585
PMSS Cohort 5 Research Project
Prof Russell Tytler, A/Prof Peta White, Prof Coral Campbell, Prof Linda Hobbs
Edpartnerships International Pty Ltd
- 2019: $58,456
PMSS Cohort 5 Research Project 2020
Prof Russell Tytler, A/Prof Peta White, A/Prof Wanty Widjaja
Edpartnerships International Pty Ltd
- 2020: $35,946
Girls' Future - Our Future second update: Impact of the COVID-10 pandemic on girls and STEM.
Prof Russell Tytler, Prof Coral Campbell, Prof Linda Hobbs
The Invergowrie Foundation
- 2022: $30,000
Other Funding Sources
Exploring socio-scientific issues through digital technology: the impact of context and culture
Prof Russell Tytler, Dr Laura Barraza
ASSA Australia France Social Sciences Collaborative Research Projects - Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia
- 2012: $4,500
STEM Teacher Enrichment Academy 2015-2016 Evaluation Project
Prof Russell Tytler, Dr Gaye Williams
University of Sydney (CAT8)
- 2016: $24,000
Supervisions
Saeed Salimpour
Thesis entitled: Visualizing the Cosmos - Teaching Cosmology in High School in the era of Big Data
Doctor of Philosophy (Education), School of Education
Rachael Hains-Wesson
Thesis entitled: An auto-ethnographical account of the development of a philosophy of practice
Doctor of Philosophy (Education), School of Education
Maurice Abi Raad
Thesis entitled: A Service-Oriented Framework for Curriculum Evaluation in Higher Education
Doctor of Philosophy (Education), School of Education
Lam Pham
Thesis entitled: Students constructing representations to problem-solve and learn in senior chemistry
Doctor of Philosophy (Education), School of Education
Constance Lee Cirkony
Thesis entitled: Students Learning Science: Representation Construction in a Digital Environment
Doctor of Philosophy (Education), School of Education
Joseph Ferguson
Thesis entitled: A Video-Based Analysis of Science Students' Computer-Mediated Abductive Reasoning
Doctor of Philosophy (Education), School of Education
Zuraini Ramli
Thesis entitled: Teaching and learning mathematics and science in a second or third language
Doctor of Philosophy (Education), School of Education
Thanh Nguyen
Thesis entitled: Teaching undergraduate physics: Changing practices in Australia and Vietnam
Doctor of Philosophy (Education), School of Education
Leissa Kelly
Thesis entitled: Marine Educators: Linking Personal Commitment, Education and Public Policy
Doctor of Philosophy (Education), School of Education
Brian Doig
Thesis entitled: Reporting Large-scale Assessment on a Single Formative-Summative Scale
Doctor of Philosophy (Education), School of Education
Paul Pivec
Thesis entitled: An Assessment of Game Based Learning
Doctor of Philosophy (Education), School of Education
Iris Yi-shin Liou
Thesis entitled: English as an International Language and Teacher Professional Identity
Doctor of Philosophy (Education), School of Education
Rosemary Hipkins
Thesis entitled: Ontological Possibilities for Rethinking Teaching of the "Nature of Science"
Doctor of Philosophy (Education), School of Education
Yvonne Zeegers
Thesis entitled: Teacher Praxis in the Genration of Students' Questions in Primary Science
Doctor of Philosophy (Education), School of Education
Waraporn Suwanakam
Thesis entitled: Using CAI to Teach Chemistry in Secondary Schools in Thailand
Doctor of Education, School of Education
Fabio D'Agostin
Thesis entitled: Task-Related Emotions in Mathematics Education
Doctor of Philosophy (Education), School of Education
Adam Masri
Thesis entitled: Discursive practices shaping girls' physics identity
Doctor of Philosophy (Education), School of Education
Edgar Caballero-Aspe
Thesis entitled: The Mexico Alaska Youth Interchange Case Study: an Educative Experience Promoting Action and Continuity
Doctor of Philosophy (Education), School of Education
Vincent Wardlaw Brown
Thesis entitled: Data Use in Monitoring Student Performance in a Secondary School
Doctor of Philosophy (Education), School of Education
Christine Ioannou
Thesis entitled: Multi-Dimensional Assessment of Student Capabilities in Mathematics and Science
Doctor of Philosophy (Education), School of Education
Marilyn Cole
Thesis entitled: Understanding Children's Environmental Lifeworlds through Visual and Conversational Narrative
Doctor of Philosophy (Education), School of Education
Carolina Castano
Thesis entitled: The Role of Science Education in Reducing Violence Towards Others
Doctor of Philosophy (Education), School of Education
Li-Yi Wang
Thesis entitled: Native English Speaking Teachers and Taiwanese English Teachers' Professional Identity
Doctor of Philosophy (Education), School of Education
Bopelo Boitshwarelo
Thesis entitled: Exploring Online Communities of Practice for Biology Teachers in Botswana
Doctor of Philosophy (Education), School of Education
John Cripps Clark
Thesis entitled: The Role of Practical Activities in Primary School Science
Doctor of Philosophy (Education), School of Education
Joyce Dale
Thesis entitled: Calculators, Mathematics and Young Children
Doctor of Philosophy (Education), School of Education
Kathryn Paige
Thesis entitled: Thinking and Working Scientifically and Technologically in Primary Classrooms
Doctor of Philosophy (Education), School of Education
Maryanne Fenech-Gatt
Thesis entitled: Transition of Understandings in Science and SOSE : A Case Study
Master of Arts (Education), School of Education