About
Susan Caldis is a Senior Lecturer at Macquarie School of Education, Macquarie University, specializing in geography education. Her academic career focuses on teacher education, curriculum development, and the challenges of out-of-field teaching in geography. She holds a doctoral degree with her thesis titled 'Transition into the teaching profession and transformation of pedagogical practice in the secondary geography classroom' (2021).
- Position: Senior Lecturer (Professional Casual)
- Institution: Macquarie University
- School: Macquarie School of Education
- Specialization: Geography Education
- ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6659-8629
Dr. Caldis's research centers on geography education, with particular emphasis on teacher preparation, out-of-field teaching challenges, and curriculum development. Her work explores how geography as a discipline can be effectively taught in secondary schools, the integration of geography within STEM education, and the development of powerful geographical knowledge. She has extensively researched the experiences of teachers who are required to teach geography without specific subject background.
Her publication trends show a strong focus on practical applications for classroom teachers, with recent work addressing contemporary challenges such as making the Anthropocene concept visible in the NSW geography syllabus and developing frameworks for out-of-field teachers across multiple disciplines. Her research outputs include textbooks, book chapters, peer-reviewed journal articles, and professional development resources.
- 39 research outputs between 2013-2024
- 10 prizes/awards (as indicated in profile)
- 2 research projects (2021-2024)
- Significant contribution to Australian geography curriculum development
Dr. Caldis has been actively involved in professional associations for geography educators and has contributed to the development of the Foundation to Year 10 Australian Curriculum for Geography. Her work bridges academic research and practical classroom application, with a focus on enhancing teacher knowledge and pedagogical skills specifically for geography education. She has collaborated extensively with geography education researchers across Australia on projects addressing teacher shortages and professional development needs.
