Biography summary
Sarah Ohi’s research is encompassed by the overarching theme of the Power of Language and Literacy (discourse) and her publications are nested in three main areas under this; Early Years Literacy, Teacher Learning and Policy. Although Sarah’s research focuses upon many important aspects of Early Years Literacy, her main emphasis is upon the power of words and the impact of discourse and the development of concepts in Literacy Education settings. This is evident in her most recent work focusing upon issues associated with building Intercultural Understanding through literature and literacy. The second research area is that of Teacher Learning involving a focus on ensuring that pre- service, in-service teachers and Early Childhood Educators establish firm foundational knowledge of Early Years Literacy development. Furthermore, she interested in the affordances that technology offers to engage in Teacher’s Professional Learning. This has resulted in the development of rich partnerships with early childhood centres, schools and the winning of government research tenders. Finally, Sarah’s research encompasses a focus upon Early Years policy and the way in which it is subject to political change and is continually evolving. Sarah contributes to Deakin’s LIVE 2020 agenda by continuing to transform IDEAS into innovative research, as an individual and collaborative, leading team member.
Research interests
Language and Literacy Development in the Early Years
Digital Play and Multimodal literacies in Early Childhood
Improving Online Learning in Higher Education
Discourse Analysis
Education Policy Analysis
Pasifika Education
Affiliations
Australian Literacy Educators Association (ALEA)
Australian Teacher Education Association (ATEA)
E-Lit/The Primary English Teaching Association (PETA)
Australian Association for Research in Education (AARE)
Early Childhood Australia (ECA)
Founding member Victorian Early Childhood Research Consortium (VECR)
The Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT)
Teaching interests
ECE703 Early Childhood Language, Literacy and Mathematics
ECE762 Language and Literacy
ECE230 Language & Literacy Development in Early Childhood
Units taught
Conferences
Professional activities
Faculty of Arts and Education Human Ethics Advisory Group
Bachelor Early Childhood Education Re-accreditation Committee, Deakin University.
Bachelor of Teaching (Primary) Course Re-accreditation Committee, Deakin University.
Deakin Alliance, Academic Mentor to Schools, (Hallam & South East).
Research groups
2011-21 Victorian Early Childhood Research Consortium, Founding Member
2015-20 The Melbourne Group, Founding Member
2011-20 The Language, Literacies and Learning Teaching and Research Group
2011-12 The Early Childhood Research, Emerging Research group, Leader and Founding Member,
Awards
2017 School of Education Teaching Award for Sustained Excellence in Teaching from 2015-2017
2013 Vice Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to Partnerships, 27th November, 2013, Geelong Waterfront, BECE DAYD team.
2010 The Deans Teaching Award, for Excellence in Teaching;
First Year Teaching, Faculty of Arts & Education, Deakin University, Prof. Jennifer Radbourne.
2010 Best Abstract Award, Deakin Teaching and Learning Conference 4/11/10, Deakin University, Prof. Colin Mason, Director Institute of Teaching & Learning,
Projects
Chief Investigator: Exploring effective early years literacy teaching practices in Early Childhood settings in Australia, Ohi,S. & Ozturk,G.(2021-2022)
University Partnership with Swinburne Technology: Pre-service Teachers’ Theory-Praxis Nexus: Perspectives on Early Years Literacy Education, Pale, M. & Ohi, S. (2018-2020).
Graduate Teacher Conferences: Design, Implementation and Evaluation Department of Education and Training (DET), Victoria. Walker-Gibbs,B., Ure,C.,Gallant,A., Thomas,M.,Rowe,E., Messer,R., Ohi,S., Mooney,A., Arnold,J., Hope-Rowe, G., O'Keefe, P., Harvie,K., Peters,J., Broadhead,K., Chaur, K., Moncrieff,K.& Sanders,K. (2018-2020).
The Intercultural Understanding in Primary & Secondary Schools Project,Halse,C(CI),Mansouri,F,Arrowsmith,C(RMIT),Moss,J.,Paradies,Y., Arber,R,Charles,C.,Cloonan,A.,Nida,D.(UWS),Ohi,S.,O’Mara,J.,Priest,N.(MU).The Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Grant www.interculturalunderstanding.org (2013-2015)
The Literacy and Numeracy Strategy, Literature Review, DEECD, Vic. Kostogriz,A. (CI), Vale,C. (CI), Auld,G., Blake,D., Bragg,L., Ohi,S., Ollis,T., O’Mara,J., Paatsch,L., Williams, G. (2013)
Chief Investigator: Implications of the restructuring of Early Childhood Education for Teacher Professional Development, Ohi,S. & Yim,B. (2012).
Pilot Statewide Professional Mentoring Program for Early Childhood Teachers (Deakin/VU partnership, Funded by DEECD). Nolan, A., Morrissey,A., Aitken, J., Doig,B., Hamm,C., Hunt,J., Laskey,L.,Ohi,S.,Rouse,L. (2011-2013)
Chief Investigator: Developing Essential Language and Literacy Tools for Early Childhood Education, Deakin University. Ohi,S. (2011-2012)
Chief Investigator: Investigating the Role of Early childhood Teachers in the Research Policy Praxis Nexus; A focus upon Language and Literacy in Early Childhood.Ohi,S.(2010-2012)
Chief Investigator: Enhancing On-line Teaching and Learning through Research.Ohi,S. (2010)
Chief Investigator: A Day in the Life of an Early Childhood Educator.Ohi,S.(2010)
Publications
Sarah Ohi, P Ingram
(2021), pp. 1-19, Asia Pacific journal of education, Abingdon, Eng., C1
S Ohi, J O’Mara, R Arber, C Hartung, G Shaw, C Halse
(2019), Vol. 18, pp. 234-247, European Educational Research Journal, C1
Gulsah Ozturk, Sarah Ohi
(2019), pp. 1-16, Early years, Abingdon, Eng., C1
Gulsah Ozturk, Sarah Ohi
(2018), Vol. 16, pp. 393-406, Journal of early childhood research, London, Eng., C1
An analysis of the use of autobiographical narrative for teachers' intercultural learning
A Cloonan, B Fox, S Ohi, C Halse
(2017), Vol. 28, pp. 131-144, Teaching education, London, Eng., C1
Building a model of support for preschool children with speech and language disorders
N Robertson, S Ohi
(2016), Vol. 5, pp. 173-181, Journal of education and learning, Toronto, Ont., C1
Doing diversity: intercultural understanding in primary and secondary schools
C Halse, F Mansouri, J Moss, Y Paradies, J O'Mara, R Arber, N Denson, C Arrowsmith, N Priest, C Charles, A Cloonan, B Fox, C Hartung, C Mahoney, S Ohi, G Ovenden, G Shaw, L Wright
(2015), Melbourne, Vic., A6
Supporting intercultural engagement in literacy education
A Cloonan, J O’Mara, S Ohi
(2014), pp. 83-98, Becoming a teacher of language and literacy, Port Melbourne, Vic., B1
S Ohi
(2014), Vol. 5, pp. 1008-1018, Creative education, Irvine, California, C1
Literacy in early childhood and primary education : issues, challenges and solutions
C McLachlan, T Nicholson, R Fielding-Barnsley, L Mercer, S Ohi
(2013), Cambridge, England, A1
The literacy and numeracy strategy literature review
A Kostogriz, C Vale, G Auld, D Blake, L Bragg, S Ohi, T Ollis, J O'Mara, L Paatsch, G Williams
(2013), Melbourne, Vic., A6-1
Investigating Ways of Enhancing Online Research
S Ohi
(2011), Vol. 8, pp. 1-6, International journal of instructional technology and distance learning, Pittsburgh, Pa., C1
The teacher's role in the research-policy-praxis nexus
S Ohi
(2008), Vol. 52, pp. 95-109, Australian journal of education, Sydney, N.S.W., C1-1
An evaluation of the early years literacy program
J Williams, M Fleer, K Power, S Ohi, S North, M Long
(2008), Adelaide, S. Aust., A6-1
Teacher's professional knowledge and the teaching of reading in the early years
S Ohi
(2007), Vol. 32, pp. 1-14, Australian journal of teacher education, Graylands, W.A., C1-1
Funded Projects at Deakin
Other Public Sector Funding
Pilot statewide professional mentoring program for early childhood teachers
A/Prof Anne-Marie Morrissey, Dr Sarah Ohi, Ms Louise Laskey, A/Prof Liz Rouse, Prof Andrea Nolan
Victoria University Linkage Coll grant, DEECD Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
- 2015: $188,450
- 2013: $64,200
- 2011: $64,200
Literacy and Numeracy Strategy - Literature Review
A/Prof Colleen Vale, Prof Damian Blake, Dr Glenn Auld, Dr Leicha Bragg, Prof Louise Paatsch, A/Prof Trace Ollis, A/Prof Joanne O'Mara, Dr Gaye Williams, Dr Sarah Ohi
DEECD Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
- 2013: $54,420
Supervisions
Dewi Mulia
Thesis entitled: The role of play in teaching English as a foreign language in early childhood settings in Indonesia
Doctor of Philosophy (Education), School of Education
Kathy Swinkels
Thesis entitled: Mathematically-rich Interactions in Early Childhood Centres
Doctor of Philosophy (Education), School of Education