معرفی
Professor Kathy Tangalakis is a distinguished academic at Victoria University's First Year College, where she serves as Deputy Head of Scholarship & Professional Learning. With a career focused on enhancing first-year student learning experiences, particularly in biomedical and health-related courses, she has made significant contributions to educational innovation through Victoria University's Block Model teaching approach. Her work extends nationally through her co-chair position with the National Biomedical Assessment Collaboration, which aims to build a national Assessment Framework for biomedical and biosciences education.
Dr. Tangalakis earned her BSc (Hons) in 1988 and PhD in 1992, both from the University of Melbourne. Her academic journey has led her through various leadership roles including:
- Course Coordinator, Bachelor of Science (Biomedical Sciences) (2008-2010)
- Academic Coordinator (Teaching & Learning), School of Biomedical Sciences (2009-2012)
- Head of Discipline (Medical Physiology), College of Health & Biomedicine (2014-2016)
- First Year Champion, College of Health & Biomedicine (2014-2016)
- Course leader, Bachelor of Biomedicine (2015-2015)
- Deputy Head of Scholarship & Professional Learning, First Year College (2018-present)
Professor Tangalakis's research interests center on innovative approaches to first-year STEM education, particularly through the Block Model teaching system. She investigates how this innovative approach impacts student outcomes, with a special focus on diverse student cohorts in biomedical and health-related courses. Her work with the National Biomedical Assessment Collaboration has led to the development of a comprehensive Assessment Framework designed to map and improve assessment quality across Australian biomedical education programs. Additionally, she explores the core concepts of physiology and how they can be effectively taught and assessed across university curricula.
Her publication record demonstrates a clear dual focus: educational innovation in higher education (particularly the Block Model) and physiology education. Recent articles show her leading large Australian teams to unpack and validate core physiology concepts while simultaneously examining how teaching innovations impact student learning outcomes. This dual expertise makes her work uniquely positioned at the intersection of content knowledge and pedagogical innovation.
Professor Tangalakis has received numerous international, national, and institutional awards for her contributions to learning and teaching, though specific awards are not detailed in the available information. Her work has been widely recognized for its impact on student learning experiences and outcomes.
As an academic supervisor, Professor Tangalakis has led and co-supervised research projects including 'New vaccines for Alzheimer's Disease: prevention as a cure' and 'Motivational interviewing in female breast cancer survivors.' Her collaborative approach to research is evident in her numerous team-based projects examining physiology education, assessment frameworks, and innovative teaching methods in the Block Model environment.
Professor Tangalakis is actively involved in several collaborative networks, including her work with the Australian Council for Educational Research to improve assessment of core physiology concepts. Her research team focuses on understanding how educational innovations impact student learning, particularly for diverse cohorts in STEM disciplines.
