David Ellis B.Ed(Syd) MUDS(Bond)

David is a lecturer in the School of Education’s Technology Education Program. David has
worked in the building industry and has taught for many years in both NSW Departmental
and Catholic high schools where he assumed Coordination roles in both Technological and
Applied Studies and Vocational Education Departments. From 1999 to 2007, David worked for
the Board of Studies marking both the HSC examination paper and Major Design Projects. He
was approached in 2005 to co-Author a HSC text book. The book ‘Cambridge Design &
Technology’ was first published in 2006.

As a Coordinator, David has always been interested in developing the capabilities of his
teachers. He discovered inadequate systems in managing Occupational Health and Safety in
Technology Education. His procedural system was adopted by schools in the Lismore Diocese
to better equip them in documentation and procedural knowledge. Also his interest in
Computer Aided Design and parametric modelling inspired him to develop professional
implement opportunities for Technology Education on both the mid-north and north coast of
NSW.

David’s personal interest in building design and construction lead him to complete a
Master’s degree in Urban Development and Sustainability on the Gold Coast. It was here
that he developed his interest in Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD). He also
enjoys timber sculpture and was chosen to exhibit his work at the East Coast Sculptural
Show in 2007.

David’s current research interests include: developing teacher capability and practical
skills in distance education; virtual reality and simulation in the design industry;
unpacking the design industry with a particular focus on industrial and furniture design;
energy and cost efficient design in buildings; and sustainability in urban planning.

Journal articles

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Identifying quality with pre-service technology educators: a different perspective on assessment, Institute of Industrial Arts and Technology Education (Members only Journal) (2012)

The development of an ‘eye for good design’- the ability to determine what looks good...

OpenURL

Procedural skills and Sketch-Up: an example of how drawing skills can be taught over a distance, Institute of Industrial Arts and Technology Education (2012)

Books

Cambridge senior design and technology, 2nd edn (with Arna Wesley, Kerry Adamthwaite, Paul Lowe, Sandra McKee, Romalina Rocca, and Mike Worth), School of Education Papers (2010)

Cambridge senior design and technology (with Kerry Adamthwaite, Paul Lowe, Arna Wesley, Romalina Rocca, and Mike Worth), School of Education Papers (2006)

Book chapters

Evaluating the processes and outcomes of designing and producing, Cambridge senior design and technology (2010)

Evaluating the processes undertaken and the impact of the major design project, Cambridge senior design and technology (2010)

Identifying a need or opportunity and exploring ideas for design development, Cambridge senior design and technology (2010)

Selecting and using resources responsibly to realise a quality major design project, Cambridge senior design and technology (2010)

Using design processes, Cambridge senior design and technology (2010)

Blog Posts

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Developing procedural knowledge via a distance, The Online Science Educator for the Distance Learning Community (2013)

Ever tried to assemble a flat packed piece of furniture without the pictures? How about...

Conference publications

Sustaining the future through virtual worlds (with Sue Gregory, Lisa Jacka, Frederick Stokes-Thompson, Helen Farley, Sheila Scutter, Penelope Neuendorf, Shane Mathews, Jaime Garcia, Grant Meredith, Scott Grant, Angela Giovanangeli, Andrew Cram, Tracey Muir, Jenny Grenfell, Anthony Williams, Angela McCarthy, Brent Gregory, Stefan Schutt, Denise Wood, Lindy Orwin, Ian Warren, Matt Bower, Des Butler, Jay Jay Jegathesan, Eimear Muir-Cochran, Clare Atkins, Karen Le Rossignol, Dale Linegar, Ben Cleland, Lyn Hay, Simeon Simoff, Mathew Hillier, Yvonne Masters, Ieva Stupans, Caroline Steel, Charlynn Miller, Merle Hearns, Ross Brown, Kim Flintoff, Belma Gaukrodger, Ian Larson, Xiangyu Wang, Edith Paillat, Ning Gu, and Anton Bogdanovych), Future challenges: sustainable futures: Australian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education (ASCILITE) (2012)