معرفی
Professor Rachel Sheffield is a Professor in the School of Education within the Faculty of Humanities at Curtin University, Western Australia. She has established herself as a leading educator and researcher in STEM education, with a particular focus on science teacher preparation and innovative teaching approaches that foster scientific literacy among pre-service teachers.
Her educational philosophy centers on translating industry experience as a science teacher to teacher training students in ways that help them build their professional identity. She emphasizes creating communities of primary teacher practitioners who are scientifically literate, confident, and competent to inspire their own students.
Professor Sheffield's research interests include:
- STEM and STEAM education integration in classrooms
- Makerspace approaches for STEM learning
- Online scaffolded approaches to science inquiry
- Digital andragogy in tertiary teaching and learning
- Sustainability education and developing sustainable mindsets
- Women's experiences and leadership in STEMM fields
- Cross-cultural STEM education, particularly with Asian countries
Her recent publications demonstrate a strong international focus, with numerous collaborations between Australian and Asian institutions. She has developed several online resources for science inquiry learning, including websites focused on kitchen science and water investigations.
Professor Sheffield has received significant recognition for her contributions to education:
- 2018-2019: STEMM International Homeward Bound
- 2017: Curtin Academy Fellow
- 2017: SHEA Fellow
- 2016: OLT National Citation for Excellence in Teaching
- 2016: Endeavour Fellowship to collect, curate and digitize teaching artifacts in Lao PDR
- 2016: ISTE STEM Award
- 2015: HERDSA Fellow
- 2014: Curtin Excellence and Innovation in Teaching Award
She has secured substantial research and teaching grants, including multiple $264,000 New Colombo Plan Mobility grants for international study programs in India, Malaysia, Singapore, and Sri Lanka. Current projects explore AI applications in education, pandemic impacts on teaching, and cross-cultural STEM initiatives. Professor Sheffield maintains active international collaborations, particularly with Indian institutions, focusing on developing digital STEM professional learning platforms and examining primary students' engagement with STEM through makerspace approaches.
