A/Prof Louisa Tomas Engel - Research Portfolio

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About

A/Prof. Louisa Tomas Engel, B.Ed./B.Sc. (Hons.), Ph.D., began her educational career as a secondary science teacher before she commenced her current appointment in Education at James Cook University, Townsville, in 2009. She is currently Associate Dean, Research Education for the College of Arts, Society and Education, and is an appointed member of the University's Academic Board, serving in the capacity of Academic Expert – Scholarship.

Louisa's teaching and research has focused on areas of Science and Sustainability Education. Her research primarily explores curricula and pedagogical approaches that engage diverse students in the learning of science and enhance the development of scientific literacy. She was part of a team of researchers that worked with local high schools as part of an Australian Research Council Linkage Grant (led by QUT) that has investigated school students’ emotional engagement with socioscientific issues.

Most recently, Louisa has developed a program of research that has explored effective pedagogical approaches for Science and Sustainability Education in pre-service teacher education. This research has explored flipped classroom and blended learning approaches, and has been funded, in part, by a James Cook University Teaching and Learning Development Grant. The goal of this research is to inform best practice regarding teaching and learning in Science and Sustainability Pre-service Teacher Education, so as to better support the learning and success of our first year pre-service teachers.

Louisa's teaching and research in this field has been recognised by way of a number of awards, including a JCU TropEco Award for enhancing Education for Sustainability in learning, teaching and research, two JCU Citations and a National Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning.

Teaching

ED1411: Science and Sustainability in Education (Level 1; ONL & TSV)
RM8501: Research Planning (Level 8; CNS & TSV)
RM8502: Research Project (Level 8; CNS & TSV)

Interests

Research

Innovative pedagogical strategies (including diversified writing-to-learn strategies) that support the development of scientific literacy and enhance student engagement in science learning, particularly in the middle school
Socioscientific issues education
The relationship between affect, student engagement, and the achievement of scientific literacy
Education for sustainability and preservice teacher education

Teaching

Science education
Sustainability education
Curriculum and pedagogy

Experience

2023 to present - Associate Dean, Research Education, James Cook University (College of Arts, Society & Education)
2018 to present - Associate Professor, James Cook University (Townsville)
2021 to 2022 - Associate Dean, Professional Experience and Accreditation, James Cook University (College of Arts, Society & Education)
2019 to 2020 - Bachelor of Education (Secondary) Coordinator, James Cook University (Townsville, Cairns)
2013 to 2017 - Senior Lecturer, James Cook University (Townsville)
2013 to 2014 - Director of Professional Experience and Community Engagement, James Cook University (Townsville, Cairns & Singapore)
2009 to 2012 - Lecturer, James Cook University (Townsville)

Research Disciplines

Socio-Economic Objectives

Honours

Awards

2023 - Award of Reviewer Excellence (International Journal of Science Education)
2014 - Australian Award for University Teaching – Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning (Office for Learning and Teaching, Australian Government)
2014 - Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning - for enabling diverse teacher education cohorts to experience profound engagement in science and sustainability through a blended learning approach (James Cook University)
2013 - Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning - for contemporary and innovative curriculum design that successfully engages students in science and sustainability education (James Cook University)
2013 - TropEco Award: Curriculum - for enhancing education for sustainability in learning, teaching and research (James Cook University)
2011 - Rising Star Early Career Researcher Award (James Cook University)
2011 - Research Performance Award: Commendation for External Research Income (Faculty of Arts, Education and Social Sciences, JCU)
2011 - Research Performance Award: Early Career Rising Star (Faculty of Arts, Education and Social Sciences, JCU)
2011 - Research Recognition Award: Early Career Researcher (Australian Teacher Education Association)
2010 - International Committee Scholarship (National Association for Research in Science Teaching, USA)
2006 - Australian Postgraduate Award (Queensland University of Technology)
2006 - Vice Chancellor's Scholarship (Queensland University of Technology)

Memberships

2010 to 2024 - Australasian Science Education Research Association
2004 to 2024 - Full teacher registration, Queensland College of Teachers
2017 to 2022 - Science Teachers' Association of Queensland
2017 to 2022 - Australian Science Teachers Association
2013 to 2015 - Centre for Research & Innovation in Sustainability Education, James Cook University

Other

2022 to 2027 - Member - School Board, Ryan Catholic College
2022 to 2026 - ITE Program Accreditation Panellist, Queensland College of Teachers
2021 to 2026 - Member - Learning and Teaching Standing Committee, Townsville Catholic Education
2023 to 2025 - Deputy Chair - Community of Associate Deans of Research in Education (cADRE), Australian Council of Deans of Education
2023 to 2025 - Executive Board Member - Australasian Science Education Research Association
2022 to 2024 - Member - Academic Board, James Cook University
2021 to 2024 - Education Representative - Local Marine Advisory Committee, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
2016 to 2024 - Detailed Assessor - Grants, Australian Research Council
2011 to 2024 - Reviewer - Int. Journal of Science Education, Research in Science Education, Science Education, Journal of Environmental Education, Teaching Education, Int. Journal of Sustainability in Higher Ed., Int. Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Ed.
2010 to 2012 - Tertiary Teacher Educator Representative – Science Learning Area Reference Committee, (Queensland Studies Authority)

Publications

These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU. Hover over Altmetrics badges to see social impact.

Journal Articles

Mills R, Whiteford C, Brown D and Tomas L (2023) The efficacy of the Dimensions of Attitudes toward Science (DAS) for explaining primary preservice teachers’ intention to teach science. International Journal of Science Education, 45 (3). pp. 165-180
Tomas L, Mills R and Gibson F (2022) “It’s kind of like a cut and paste of the syllabus”: a teacher’s experience of enacting the Queensland Earth and Environmental Science syllabus, and implications for education for sustainable development. Australian Educational Researcher, 49. pp. 445-461
Mills R and Tomas L (2020) Realising the sustainability cross-curriculum priority through action-orientated and transformative geography education. Geographical Education, 33. pp. 11-17
Mills R, Tomas L, Whiteford C and Lewthwaite B (2020) Developing middle school students' interest in learning science and geology through slowmation. Research in Science Education, 50 (4). pp. 1501-1520
Tomas L, Mills R, Rigano D and Sandhu M (2020) Education for sustainable development in the senior Earth and Environmental Science syllabus in Queensland, Australia. Australian Journal of Environmental Education, 36 (1). pp. 44-62
Mills R, Tomas L and Lewthwaite B (2019) The impact of student-constructed animation on middle school students' learning about plate tectonics. Journal of Science Education and Technology, 28 (2). pp. 165-177
Tomas L, Evans N, Doyle T and Skamp K (2019) Are first year students ready for a flipped classroom? A case for a flipped learning continuum. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 16 (5).
Mills R, Tomas L and Lewthwaite B (2017) Junior secondary school students' conceptions about plate tectonics. International Research in Geographical and Environmental Education, 26 (4). pp. 297-310
Tomas L, Girgenti S and Jackson C (2017) Pre-service teachers' attitudes toward education for sustainability and its relevance to their learning: Implications for pedagogical practice. Environmental Education Research, 23 (3). pp. 324-347
Evans N, Tomas L and Woods C (2016) Impact of sustainability pedagogies on pre-service teachers' self-efficacy. The Journal of Education for Sustainable Development, 10 (2). pp. 1-19

Book Chapters

Tomas L and Rigano D (2018) "This is not a sex-education class, this is biology!": students' regulation of their emotions in science. In: Eventful Learning. Sense Publishers, pp. 157-169
Tomas L, King D, Henderson S, Rigano D and Sandhu M (2018) The resolution of frustration in middle school science classes: the role of the classroom teacher. In: Eventful Learning. Sense Publishers, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, pp. 133-156

More: ResearchOnline@JCU stores 36+ research outputs authored by A/Prof Louisa Tomas Engel from 2010 onwards.

Supervision

Advisory Accreditation: I can be on your Advisory Panel as a Primary or Secondary Advisor.

These Higher Degree Research projects are either current or by students who have completed their studies within the past 5 years at JCU. Linked titles show theses available within ResearchOnline@JCU.

Current

Educational Leadership for a Better World in the International Context;Research interests include - Leadership Models, Leadership and Gender, Leadership for the Future and Leadership within the International Baccalaureate context (PhD , Secondary Advisor/AM)
Examining the efficiency of the Queensland state primary schools (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
Using mobile technology to personalise the acquisition of English as an additional language learning (PhD , Secondary Advisor)