Dr Matthew Harper

Dr Matthew Harper is an early career researcher with the Teachers and Teaching Research Centre in the School of Education. He began his career as a high school English and drama teacher in NSW public schools and has experience working in a variety of settings, including roles in higher education, international non-profit organisations, community theatre, and actor training. He is also a New Colombo Plan (NCP) Alumnus and current member of the NCP Alumnus Group for his contribution to Cambodian Living Arts in 2015 as part of his undergraduate degree.

Matt’s doctoral research compared secondary mathematics and drama in the Australian schooling context, specifically using a mixed method case study design. His investigation innovatively mobilises the Quality Teaching Model, concepts from Basil Bernstein’s theorisation of pedagogic discourse, and onto-epistemic perspectives of critical realism. A timely contribution to curriculum and pedagogy theory and development, the thesis argues that investigating subjects can show how they open ways for thinking about, and being, in the world now, not just as preparation for the future. He contends that valuing both mathematics and drama is likely to deliver greater benefits for students and society than continuing to position mathematics as superior.  

As a member of the Teachers and Teaching Research Centre, Matt is committed to ensuring quality professional development for educators in schools and universities, as well as supporting students’ post-school aspirations. His knowledge in these areas led him to be instrumental in the design of a new conceptual framework for understanding and implementing train-the-trainer professional development on a large scale. He also collaborated with colleagues to develop the Aspirations: Supporting Students' Futures online professional learning course for teachers and school leaders and, more recently, the Quality Teaching in Higher Education program for academics.