Dr Jill Scevak

Biography

My masters thesis (Effects of Map Training on Reading Comprehension) and my doctoral thesis (High School Students Processing of Texts and Maps) provided the foundation for my research activity in the faculty. This activity resulted in four refereed research articles and two conference papers. Building on this foundation my subsequent research work was aligned with the facultys research priority area of Teaching and Learning focused on examining individual differences (e.g. motivation, approaches to learning, cognitive style, self-efficacy) in a variety of learning contexts: primary, secondary and tertiary. The discipline of Educational Psychology forms the conceptual framework for this research. My research activity informs my approach to curriculum design (e.g. resubmission of assignments after feedback, choice of assignment topics), assessment practices, and the design of my teaching and learning materials in the courses I teach. I have presented these research findings to teachers in the Hunter Region (see teaching portfolio) and the school presentations have highlighted how important the design of the learning materials that students study is in the development of their mental representations (their understanding).

During my tenure at the university I have extended my research and publication profile across a wide variety of educational contexts and settings, including specific studies in student learning and teacher efficacy, learning and instruction in higher education, as well as cross disciplinary studies in learning theory and its applications. More recently, this aspect of my research has been incorporated in the activities of the Centre for Study of Research Training and Impact (SORTI) where I have become part of an active research team dedicated to cross-disciplinary and mixed method studies of research training. Since becoming a member of SORTI, I have taken the initiative in two projects and been actively involved in various other projects examining a number of aspects of doctoral study. In conjunction with other members of SORTI I have been undertaking pilot projects that will underpin an ARC Linkage Grant application in 2004 and 2005. My work in instructional design has both a national and international profile. Since I have obtained my doctorate have been consistently developing my grants profile.

Another aspect of my research activity is undergraduate and graduate research student supervision. I am currently supervising three doctoral students and two masters level students and advising 40 undergraduate teacher research projects.

Qualifications

• PhD, University of Newcastle, 1995
• Diploma in Education, University of Newcastle
• Bachelor of Arts, University of Newcastle
• Master of Educational Studies, University of Newcastle, 1995

Research

Research keywords

• Educational & Developmental Psychology

Research expertise

In recent years there has been a shift in the direction of my research interests. This change has been associated with my membership of a dedicated centre of research into research training (Centre for the Study of Research Training and Impact SORTI). Since 2000 my research activity has focussed on applying learning theory to the post graduate context.. My colleagues and I have been successful in obtaining a number of competitive grants: the role of interpersonal factors in doctoral supervision; examining epistemological and ontological factors and individual differences in doctoral students, textual analysis of doctoral writing for evidence of contribution and understanding attrition.

My early research work in the Faculty of Education's priority area of Teaching and Learning focused on examining individual differences (eg motivation, approaches to learning, cognitive style, self-efficacy) in a variety of learning contexts: primary, secondary and tertiary contexts. Educational Psychology formed the conceptual framework for this research

Fields of Research

Centres and Groups

Centre

• Centre for the Study of Research Training and Impact (SORTI)

Memberships

Body relevant to professional practice.

• Committee Member - Australian Psychological Society Newcastle Branch

Awards

Research Award.

Teaching

Teaching keywords

• Educational & Developmental Psychology