Dr Maura Sellars

Biography

I trained initially at the Froebel Institute in London before completing B. Ed (Hons) at the London Institute of Education. I have worked in primary schools in the UK and Australia for 28 years, teaching all the primary grades at one time or another. I gained a Dip.Ed. in Religious Education from ACU's Queensland campus before graduating from ACU (Strathfield) with M.Ed. (Research). I have completed a PhD and am interested in widening my experience in the area of Professional Preparation, the teaching and learning process and developing strategies for making learning in mathematics enjoyable for all students.

Qualifications

• PhD, Australian Catholic University, 2010
• Master of Education, Australian National University, 2004
• Graduate Diploma of Education (Religious Educ), McAuley College - Queensland, 1989
• Bachelor of Education, University of London, 1973

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Research

Research keywords

• Differentiation K-6
• executive function
• intrapersonal intelligence
• teacher education and professional development

Research expertise

I have completed a master's degree by thesis. My PhD research focused on designing a classroom intervention to investigate Gardner's perspective on executive function. This was implemented in Stage 3 classrooms early in 2008. I am currently working with a local primary school and have DET permission to implement my intervention program in their stage three classes in 2011. I am interested in developing the executive skills of adolescent learners who use their self knowledge to produce better academic results and in working with teachers to support their personal learning and professioanl development.

Collaboration

Inclusive practices in classrooms

Curriculum differentiation

Intrapersonal intelligence and its impact on academic performance

Theories of Executive function

Students working from personal strengths to improve academic performance

Acknowledging commonalities, celebrating difference

Primary aged students and cognition, self regulation , motivation and affect

Students setting their own performance goals and related achievement

Teacher's work and professional preparation (K-6)

Gardner's Multiple Intelligences Theory

Teacher preparation

Fields of Research

Code	Description	Percentage
130299	Curriculum And Pedagogy Not Elsewhere Classified	35
080699	Information Systems Not Elsewhere Classified	35
139999	Education Not Elsewhere Classified	30

Memberships

Other

• Member - AERA

Awards

Research Award.

2004	Award for Outstanding Educational Research New South Wales Institute of Educational Research (Australia) As an Early Career Researcher, this award is important to my motivation and commitment to high quality research

Invitations

need to check CARE organisation, Malaysia (Invited Presenter)

2003

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Administrative

Administrative expertise

Deputy Principal (Primary School)

Acting Principal (Primary School)

University Admin Expertise

Course coordinator (EDUC2048, EDUC2049, EDUC2031, EDUC3142, EDUC3055, EDUC4045, EDUC 4056, EDUC4749,EDUC6738, EDUC6739,EDUC6749, EDUC6706, EDUC6707)

Program convenor Diploma of Education (Primary)

Program Convenyor B.Teach/ B. Arts (Primary

Deputy Director Professional Experience

School representative on Faculty Board

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Teaching

Teaching keywords

• English K-6
• Multi-level Pedagogy
• Professional preparation
• accommodating learner differences
• advanced mathematics
• differentiation
• ethics and professional practice
• inclusive practices
• internship
• mathematics K-6
• preparing to meet NSWIT graduate standards on internship

Teaching expertise

I have taught all primary classes and combinations of grades. My experience spans 28 years in school settings. At this University I have taught in the Primary mathematics courses for both undergraduate and Diploma of Education (primary) (Dip Ed)programs and K-6 teaching and learning in HSIE, Literacies across the curriculum, Professional preparation for beginning teacher competencies and the Student Research project courses. I have also taught in Dip Ed courses for teaching in K-6 English, K-6 HSIE and Professional preparation. I teach professional preparation for the third year undergraduate courses and prepare all the K-6 interns and Early Childhood interns who wish to undertake internship in a school setting.