Dr. Marianne Logan BA (University of New England), GradDipEd (University of New England), PhD (Southern Cross University) Dr. Marianne Logan commenced permanent employment as a lecturer at Southern Cross University (SCU) in 2010 in the School of Education. She was employed as a casual lecturer in Science and Technology Education at SCU from 2002 to 2009. Marianne also worked as a teacher in secondary and primary science education and prior to this she was employed in the area of Early Childhood education. In order to engage in research in science education while working as a casual lecturer at SCU, Marianne undertook studies towards a degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Marianne’s research involved looking at the changes in attitudes to, and interest in, science, of students in primary and secondary school. This longitudinal research study continued with the participant students after her Doctoral studies were completed. The findings from this research were presented at conferences and published in Journals. While completing her PhD Marianne was involved as a ‘teacher associate’ in an Australian Schools Innovation in Science, Technology and Mathematics (ASISTM) project funded by the Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST). This project came about as a result of the findings of Marianne’s research revealing that students in the participant schools, lost interest in science as they progressed through school. The project was titled ‘Innovative teaching in the science KLA for Stages 3-4 to improve transition’. The results from this study were incorporated into Marianne’s PhD thesis. Marianne works collaboratively with colleagues from other universities who provide support for projects and who are specifically involved in science education research. These contacts have been made through the Australasian Science Education Research Association (ASERA). Marianne carried out a pilot study in 2011 for a potential larger project involving a partnership between Monash, Queensland University of Technology and SCU looking at the National Australian Science Curriculum, the findings to be published in a book chapter (science text). Marianne regularly carries out research into her teaching, such as looking at student engagement in lectures via video-conference in 2012, the findings have been presented at conferences and seminars and will be developed into educational journal publications. Associate Professor Amy Cutter-Mackenzie joined the School of Education and provided mentorship and support for Marianne’s teaching and research from the end of 2011. Amy set up the Sustainability and Environmental Education research Cluster, which will provide a vehicle for Marianne’s research and her passion to educate the community relating to environmental science and sustainability. Marianne and Amy piloted a school-based learning approach in science/technology and sustainability in three local primary schools in 2012, which resulted in positive feedback from students, teachers, school students and the school community. The findings from this study were presented at conferences and will be published in educational journals. Marianne and Amy Cutter-Mackenzie were successful in receiving a Teaching/Learning small grant at SCU ($5000) for the school/university partnership approach for 2013 and they will apply for an Office of Learning and Teaching grant with the University of Wollongong later in 2013 to develop a large scale project relating to leadership in school/university/community partnerships.
Journal articles
The impact of teachers and their science teaching on students’ ‘science interest’: a four-year study, International Journal of Science Education (2013)
There is a crisis in school science in Australia and this may be related to...
Engaging students in science across the primary secondary interface: listening to the students’ voices (with Keith R. Skamp), Research in Science Education (2008)
Most studies indicate primary students’ attitudes towards and interest in science decline as they progress...
Primary students’ perceptions of science and scientists and upper secondary science enrolments? (with K Ramsay and Keith R. Skamp), Teaching Science (2005)
Students’ interest in science across the middle-school years (with Keith R. Skamp), Teaching Science (2005)
Book chapter
Making links between science and the learner’s world (with Amy N. Cutter-Mackenzie), Learning and teaching primary science (2013)
Learning and Teaching Primary Science brings primary science to life through the stories and experiences...
Theses
Transition or lack of it? looking at the changes in students' attitudes to, and interest in, science over the primary/secondary interface, PhD thesis, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW (2007)
The science education literature reveals a crisis in school science in Australia, and a number...
Conference publications
Lectures via video-conference in higher education: how does this mode of delivery impact on student engagement with their learning? (with Rebecca Deagan and Airdre Grant), International Teacher Education Dialogue: : Innovation and new ideas in teaching and teacher education (2012)
Science as a human endeavour: teachers’ understanding relating to the
implementation of this element into primary and secondary classrooms, 43rd Annual Australasian Science Education Research Association ASERA Conference (2012)
Many Australian students, particularly secondary students, perceive school science to lack relevance (Goodrum & Rennie,...
Teaching teachers through school-community pedagogies (with Amy N. Cutter-Mackenzie), International Teacher Education Dialogue: : Innovation and new ideas in teaching and teacher education (2012)
Attitudes, interest, motivation and student engagement: exploring the connection between these constructs in the context of science education, 42nd Annual Australasian Science Education Research Association ASERA Conference (2011)
There has been an urgent call for educators to ‘re-think’ the way science is presented...
Facilitating creativity in pre-service teacher education courses through their engagement in virtual worlds (with Lisa Jacka and Allan Ellis), iVERG Conference 2011: Immersive technologies for learning: virtual implementation, real outcomes (2011)
Reports, presentations etc.