Dr Ruth Reynolds

Biography

I work in the area of Primary pedagogy and curriculum in the HSIE/SOSE area of the curriculum. My school teaching experience was in primary classrooms over a 20 year period. I have now taught in tertiary classrooms for a similar period of time working with primary, secondary and early childhood pre-service teachers. As well as teaching in this area I have held a number of administrative positions in the School of Education at Callaghan and Ourimbah campuses including Assistant Dean Teacher Education, Deputy Head of School, Chair Primary Management Group, Program Convenor B.Teach/BA ( Primary and Secondary), and M.Teach (Primary). I have written and co written 16 books for children, preservice teachers, teachers and researchers. I am a member of a number of national and international professional associations and am past President of the Social Educators Association of Australia. In 2010 I was joint recipient of an International Understanding Grant awarded by the International Assembly of the National Council for the Social Studies in the USA. Current research projects include global education, citizenship education and technology and international studies of children's attitudes and knowledge of the world.

Qualifications

• PhD, University of Newcastle, 2000
• Diploma in Education, University of Newcastle
• Bachelor of Social Science, University of New England
• Bachelor of Arts, University of Newcastle, 1976

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Research

Research keywords

• Civics and citizenship education
• History education
• Primary pedagogy and curriculum
• Primary social science education
• Values education

Research expertise

Curriculum studies in the social science area including history education, geography education, values education, and the related pedagogy. These curriculum studies have been historically focussed but also include contemporary syllabus development and futures studies. I am interested in developing curriculum that leads to improvement in problemmatic stereotyping and prejudicial behaviours in children. I try to link effective pedagogy with the curriculum knowledge and skills.

I also work with schools in developing reflective professional development with regard to pedagogy.

Collaboration

Currently I am working with a group of colleagues at the University of Newcastle, Ausaid and the NSW Professional Teachers' Council to enhance and analyse Global perspectives in teaching approaches used by pre-service teachers. I am also continuing collaboration with the University of Umea in Sweden in work based around young children's global perspectives and am also working on projects associated with technology and citizenship education.

Fields of Research

Code	Description	Percentage
130399	Specialist Studies In Education Not Elsewhere Classified	55
130299	Curriculum And Pedagogy Not Elsewhere Classified	30
139999	Education Not Elsewhere Classified	15

Memberships

Body relevant to professional practice.

• Member - Australian and New Zealand History of Education Society

Committee/Associations (relevant to research).

• Member - History Educator's Network of Australia
• Member - Geography Association (UK)
• Committee member national conference (2004/2005) - Australian Association for Research in Education
• NSW Academic Coordinator - Social Educators of Australia Association
• Member - Australian College of Educators
• Member - Australian College of Educators
• Member - Australian Curriculum Studies Association
• Member - Collaborative Action Researchers Association (UK)
• Member - National Council for the Social Studies (US)
• Member - Primary English Teachers' Association
• Member - Primary HSIE teachers (PHSIETA)

Editorial Board.

• Member - Social Educator

Other

• National Unit Writing Competition coordinator - Social Educators Associaton of Australia

Appointments

Program convenor B.Teach / BA (Primary and Secondary) Ourimbah University of Newcastle (Australia)	01/01/2002 - 01/12/2007
Assistant Dean Teacher Education Faculty of Education and Arts University of Newcastle (Australia)	01/01/2002 - 01/11/2005
Deputy Head of School of Hummanities University of Newcastle (Australia)	01/01/2005 - 01/12/2005
Deputy Head of School of Education University of Newcastle (Australia)	01/01/2006 - 01/12/2007

Awards

Research Award.

2010	International Understanding Award National Council for the Social Studies (United States) Learning to be global citizens. A comparative study of Australian and Swedish children's knowledge and attitudes to the world.

Invitations

Literature Review 2001-2002 Board of Studies, Australia (Board of Studies Review HSIE (7-10) - Invite)	2001
International Peace Research Association Conference International Peace Research Association, Australia (Community Service - Conference Convenor)	2006
National Civics and citizenship Conference Curriculum Corporation, Canberra, Australia (Conference Invite - partially funded)	2005
National Civics and citizenship Conference Curriculum Corporation, Canberra, Australia (Conference invite)	2006
National Centre for History Education forum on Teaching Asian History Unknown, Australia (Forum - Expenses Paid)	2006
National Indigenous Education forum - What Works? Unknown, Australia (Forum - Expenses Paid)	2006
The Future of Teaching Unknown, Australia (Invited Presentation at World Teachers' Day Central Coast)	2006
National Centre for History education Teacher Educators meeting The University of Sydney, Australia (Meeting - funded)	2004
National Seminar History Educators' Network of Australia History Educators' Network of Australia, Australia (Seminar invite - funded)	2004
National Seminar on the Teaching of History Unknown, Australia (Seminar invite - funded)	2002
Curriculum History Group Sydney University, Australia (Seminar invite - partially funded)	2004

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Administrative

Administrative expertise

Course coordinator of multiple courses

Social Science education coordinator

Progam convenor - primary and secondary teaching

Coordinator Primary education, Ourimbah campus

Assistant Dean Teacher Education, Ourimbah campus

Deputy Head of School of Education

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Teaching

Teaching keywords

• Civics and citizenship education
• HSIE Education
• Primary education
• Primary history pedagogy and curriculum
• Primary pedagogy and curriculum
• Values education

Teaching expertise

Primary teacher education with an emphasis on social science education.

Generic pedagogy

Action research and reflective pedagogy

Secondary social sciences and history education