Sarah Taouk

Sarah Taouk is a Lecturer in the School of Education at the Australian Catholic University specializing in science and STEM education. Her research examines asynchronous online learning methodologies and strategies to improve teacher confidence in science instruction, with current projects investigating student engagement in virtual Initial Teacher Education (ITE) environments.

Prior to her education career, Dr. Taouk conducted over a decade of medical research on respiratory disorders including Asthma and Lymphangiolyomyomatosis (LAM). Her transition to educational research focuses on the challenges of real-time disconnection in online teacher training, revealing through recent studies that 50%+ of ITE students experience significant isolation and disengagement in fully asynchronous programs. Current collaborations explore transforming ITE students' perceptions of science teaching through enhanced digital engagement frameworks.

Her December 2024 co-authored research demonstrates how the absence of synchronous interaction impacts critical teaching competencies including verbal communication, relationship-building, and crisis management in classroom settings. The work identifies key improvements through responsive facilitation, personalized video content, and active discussion board moderation to mitigate isolation while maintaining flexible learning pathways.