Dr Greg Preston

Dr Preston is an experienced academic who has been working at the University of Newcastle since the early 1990s and during this time has been involved in all aspects of academic activity. He has taught at the undergraduate and postgraduate level- with the majority of his work being with the Coursework masters programs of the School of Education.  He has supervised dozens of RHD students and is an experienced examiner. Dr Preston has coordinated numerous research projects and published extensively across several education domains. He is also involved in the administrative functions of the University currently being the longest serving member of University Senate, and having spent 14 years coordinating the University's academic integrity systems. Prior to working at the University of Newcastle he worked as a teacher in NSW and Europe and held other state and federal positions.

Research Expertise
Dr Preston’s research is typified by activity in two primary domains. These are Information and Communication Technologies,and Higher Education.

Research Domain- Information and Communication Technology and Online learning The field of ICT is the domain where most of Dr Preston’s research work has been focused since his appointment, and he is a recognized expert in online learning in higher Education. Key in this area has been the conduct of research which is designed to evaluate the use of ICT and Online learning in Educational settings. Specifically Dr Preston has developed a strong reputation for quality practical research inthe  area of uses of Online learning and the Internet in educational settings. This research evaluates and assesses the outcomes of the introduction of ICT into learning environments, and advises on the effectiveness of specific approaches to the use of ICT. This research links directly with Dr Preston’s primary teaching responsibilities. The findings of this research has not only formed the basis for his teaching in this area, but has resulted in numerous presentations at local, nation, and international gatherings and refereed journal articles. Additionally, he was the institutional lead on a Carrick priority grant which explored the use of e-learning and the iLecture system at four of Australia's Research intensive universities. Similarly, his work on social issues in ICT has resulted in book chapters and fully refereed presentations at the most important international, and national conferences in this field.

Research Domain- Higher Education. Dr Preston’s work in this area is founded on an interest in the nature of Educational Institutions and the ways that individual institutions adapt and react to external political, economic and social forces. The research is particularly focused on Teaching and the Institutions of Teacher training. His research in this domain has seen him publishing numerous reports, book chapters and books in the History of HE and academic integrity in HE areas.  His research in this domain includes traditional historical methods of document, photographic and policy location, analysis, and interpretation.

Teaching Expertise
Dr Preston’s major teaching responsibilities are currently in the School of Education Postgraduate program in ICT. His main teaching responsibilities have been on EDUC6018 Information Technologies and Education EDUC6038 An Introduction to ICT in Education EDUC6036 Educational Leadership and ICT EDUC6039 Applications of Computers in Education EDUC6042 Digitally Supported Learning EDUC6101 Web 2.0 and Beyond EDUC6240 Teaching the Digital Generation. His has been the leader of the ICT disipline for the last 20 years. During his time at the University he has taught within almost all the programs offered by the school of education. This has included lectures to large undergraduate groups and small tutorials for postgraduate coursework groups. He has been involved with the supervision of practicum placements and RHD students, and been at the cutting edge of the appropriate use of computer-based technology in all of these endeavours. Guiding this involvement has been a belief in the notion of students constructing their own learning. This has lead to a student-centred approach to the learning and teaching process, which stresses the importance of students taking control over their own learning. Similarly, the processes of self-reflection and evaluation (both student and peer) have been pivotal in the development of Dr Preston’s teaching style. He has received the Vice-Chancellors Award for Teaching Excellence for 2005, the Vice-Chancellors Citation for outstanding Contributions to Student Learning for 2006, and a NUPSA award for Online teacher of the Year in 2014.

Administrative Expertise
Dr Preston has made significant contributions to planning, governance and academic leadership within the University. He has contributed to numerous committees and been active in the development of policy in relation to key teaching, learning and research initiatives at the school, faculty and university level. His committee membership has spanned all areas of University activity, including research, teaching and administration. He was on the standing committee (senior executive) committee of the school for 1992-2000. and was deputy Head of school in 2022 and 2023, with periods as acting Head of School. His involvement at the University level has seen him twice become the elected chair of a university committee, and also represent the university on a national IT group for the last fifteen years. He has  also provided advice to senior executive members of the University independent to this committee membership. He is currently an elected member of the University Senate, and has previously been an appointed member of the University Teaching and learning Committee, and the University Program and Course Approval Committee. He has extensive experience in the Academic Integrity field, having led the University's efforts in the period 2009-2023.