معرفی
Dr Patricia (Trish) Collins is a Lecturer in Early Childhood Studies at Edith Cowan University's School of Education. With over 20 years in early childhood education, she transitioned to consultancy roles with Catholic Education Western Australia and Walker Learning before academia. Her research focuses on personal values in children and adults, well-being, and their application to teaching styles, supported by methodologies like the Best-Worst Approach. She collaborates with the Centre for Excellence for the Digital Child on projects such as digital health studies and longitudinal technology use analysis.
Qualifications include a PhD (UWA, 2020), Master of Education (UWA, 2013), and dual Bachelor degrees in Education from ECU (2006 & 1998). Current teaching spans undergraduate courses in STEM, science, and mathematics in early childhood, along with postgraduate modules on science education.
Research interests emphasize linking personal values to well-being and social behavior, pre-service teachers' values influencing pedagogy, and STEM integration. She co-leads projects funded by Goodstart Early Learning ($86,648) and ECU's Early-Mid Career Grant ($39,944).
Her advising includes supervising a Master’s project analyzing Australia’s curriculum through Schwartz’s Value Theory and a PhD on internet-based cognitive therapy for pre-service teachers with social anxiety.
Collins is affiliated with the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre and the Centre for Human and Cultural Values, advising on state curriculum standards (SCSA) and serving on WAIER’s committee and Hollywood Primary School’s board.
