McGraw, Amanda Assoc Prof.

Position: Associate Professor, Program Leader - Master of Teaching (Secondary)
Location: Mt Helen Campus, T Building, Room T312
Phone: 5327 9720
Email: a.mcgraw@federation.edu.au

Qualifications

Professional Doctorate (Education), University of Ballarat

Master of Arts (Literary Studies), Deakin University

Bachelor of Education, La Trobe University

Bachelor of Arts (Honours), Deakin University

Teaching

Course(s)

  • Master of Teaching (Secondary)

Units

  • Learning and Teaching 1 (EDMAS6002)
  • Learning and Teaching 2 (EDMAS6102)
  • Teacher as Researcher (EDMAS6104)
  • Conducting a Practitioner Inquiry (EDMAS6121)
  • English Curriculum (EDMAS6009)
  • English Curriculum (EDMAS6109)

Biography

Amanda coordinates the Master of Teaching (Secondary) program at FedUni. The program is practice-based, theory-informed teacher education and is taught on-site in a cluster of partnership schools. Amanda’s interest in school/university partnerships stems back to 2002 when she was appointed by the university to work across the boundaries of teacher education and school leadership. As an Assistant Principal in a large regional school she was responsible for enhancing teaching and learning and building partnership connections with the university. She continues to work closely with regional and rural schools in order to initiate partnership innovations and prepare pre-service teachers for the complexity of schooling. In 2016 Amanda was awarded an OSP to investigate Professional Development Schools in the US and she has formed an ongoing partnership with teacher educators at Athens University in the state of Georgia. Amanda’s interest in teachers’ professional learning stems back to earlier careers when she worked on extended projects for the Victorian Association for the Teaching of English (VATE), the Victorian Department of Education and the Victorian Board of Studies. She is currently involved in a DET funded three year project related to the teaching of reading. She works with teachers in their classrooms as a critical friend supporting them to conduct practitioner inquiries and network with other teachers in communities of practice.

Amanda is a passionate teacher committed to giving critical attention to her teaching practice. Amanda taught English for nearly 20 years in both state and independent schools. In 2010, as a teacher educator she was awarded the Vice-Chancellor's Award for Teaching Excellence at the University of Ballarat. In 2012 she received an Australian Government Higher Education Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning. She is particularly interested in the dispositions central to effective teaching and has developed a Teaching Dispositions Framework which informs teaching, curriculum and assessment in the Master of Teaching program.

Areas of expertise

Amanda is predominantly a narrative researcher interested in the stories teachers tell about their work. She is particularly interested in teachers’ dispositions and the way changes in educational policy are impacting on teachers’ agency and their ability to think creatively and critically about teaching and learning.

(1) School/university partnerships in teacher education

Amanda has led the development of a unique cluster of partnerships between the university and regional and rural schools. She is researching the impact of on-site teacher education experiences on teaching and learning for PSTs and is examining innovations in this area with colleagues here and from the US,

(2) The teaching of English

Amanda has worked on many projects with English teachers including major DET funded projects related to the teaching of reading and to literacy learning. Amanda worked as the Education/Executive Officer at VATE for three years, convened state and national English teaching conferences, assessed VCE English exams for many years and has sat on the VCE English Text Selection Committee. Amanda is currently co-convenor of the VATE Professional Learning and Research Committee.

(3) Narrative Inquiry

Amanda uses narrative inquiry to examine issues related to teachers’ professional learning. She enjoys writing narratively and uses a range of narrative approaches, including visualisations, to develop deep understandings of teachers’ and students’ teaching and learning experiences in classrooms.

Research interests

  • School/university partnerships in teacher education
  • Teaching dispositions
  • The teaching of English
  • Literacy across the curriculum
  • Teachers’ professional learning and practitioner inquiry
  • Narrative Inquiry

Publications

Book chapters

McGraw, A., Dresden, J. Gilbertson, E. & Baker, M. (2017).Site-based teacher education as a context for attending to the complexity and person-centred nature of teaching and learning: a narrative inquiry involving teacher educators from Australia and the United States. In Nuttall, J., Kostogriz, A., Jones. M. & Martin., J. (Eds.). Teacher Education Policy and Practice – Evidence of Impact, Impact of Evidence. Singapore: Springer. (in publication).

McGraw, A., McDonough, S. Wines, C. & O’Loughlan, C.  (2016). Activating teaching dispositions in carefully constructed contexts: Examining the impact of classroom intensives. In Brandenburg, R., McDonough, S., Burke, J. & White, S. Teacher Education: Innovation, Intervention and Impact.  Singapore:Springer.

McGraw, A. (2014). Dispersed narratives and powerful teacher education. In C. J. Craig & L. Orland-Barak, Advances in research on teaching – International teacher education: Promising pedagogies. Bingley, UK: Emerald.

McGraw, A. (2013). Layered stories as opportunities to show and engage in learning. In R. Brandenburg & J. Z. Wilson, Pedagogies for the future. Rotterdam: Sense Publishers.

Danjun Ying, I, McGraw, A. & Berry A. (2013). Self and community: the impact of ISATT on the professional learning, teaching and research of members in the Asia-Pacific region. In C. Craig, P. Meijer & J Broeckmans, From teacher thinking to teachers and teaching: The evolution of a research community. Bingley: Emerald.

McGraw, A. (2007). Young people as powerful learners. In Loader, D. Jousting for the new generation. Camberwell: ACER Press

McGraw, A. (2007).New teachers, new teaching. In Loader, D. Jousting for the new generation. Camberwell: ACER Press

McGraw, A. (2007). On the brink. In Loader, D. Jousting for the new generation. Camberwell: ACER Press

McGraw, A. (2006). Struggling to make a difference in an imperfect world. In Doecke, B., Homer, D. & Nixon, H. Only connect: English teaching, schooling and community. South Australia: AATE.

Refereed journal articles

McGraw, A. (2018). Freedom and constraint in teacher education: Reflections on experiences over time. Australian Journal of Teacher Education, 43(3), p.154-167.

McGraw, A. & Fish, T. (2018). Selection and rejection in teacher education: qualities of character crucial in selecting and developing teaching education students. Asia-Pacific Journal of Teacher Education. 46(2), p. 120-132.

McGraw, A. & Mason, M. (Contributing Editors). (2017). Reading and an imaginative act. Idiom. 53(3).

McGraw, A. & Mason, M. (2017). Reading as an imaginative act. English in Australia. 52(2), p.9-19.

McGraw, A. & Davis, R. (2017). Mentoring for pre-service teachers and the use of inquiry-oriented feedback. International Journal of Mentoring and Coaching in Education. (in publication)

McGraw, A. (2011). Shoving our way into young peoples' lives. Teacher Development. 15 (1), p.105-116.

Conference proceedings

McGraw, A. & Mason, M. (2018, March). Reading as an imaginative act. Invited speakers at the National Futures Schools Expo, Exhibition Buildings, Melbourne.

McGraw, A. (2017, Dec). School/university partnership innovations. Keynote speaker, Teacher Education Symposium, University of Melbourne.

McGraw, A., Mason, M. & Lee, D. (2017, Dec). What happens in our heads when we read? And why is it important to talk about reading in classrooms. Victorian Association for the Teaching of English (VATE), Melbourne.

Mansfield, C., McGraw, A., Crosswell, L., Weatherby-Fell, Morrison, C. (2017, Nov). Resilience in teacher education: Responding to unique challenges by staying BRITE. Australian Association for Research in Education (AARE), Canberra.

Keamy, K, Buckworth, J, Clinton, J, McGraw, A. (2017, Nov). Impacting on debates about teacher education: The development and trial of the national assessment for graduate teaching. Australian Association for Research in Education (AARE), Canberra.

McGraw, (2017, Aug). Reading as an Imaginative Act. Keynote Speaker, VATE English Coordinators’ Conference, Melbourne.

McGraw, A. (2017, July). Site-based teacher education as a context for attending to the complex and person-centered nature of teaching and learning: a narrative inquiry involving teacher educators from Australia and the United States. Australian Teacher Educators Association (ATEA), Brisbane.

McGraw, A. & Mason, M. (2017, July). Reading as Imaginative Act. Australian Association for the Teaching of English (AATE), Hobart.

McGraw, A. & McDonough, S. (2017, July). Dispositions as a resource for teacher resilience. BRITE Partnership Forum, Perth.

McGraw, A. (2016, Nov). Activating pre-service teachers’ disposition to critically attend through a carefully constructed classroom observation experience. Australian Association for Research in Education (AARE), Melbourne.

McGraw, A. & Mason. M. (2016, Nov). Reading as an imaginative act. Victorian Association for the Teaching of English (VATE), Melbourne.

McGraw, A. & Mason, M. (2015, Nov). Making reading metacognitive and meaningful. Victorian Association for the Teaching of English (VATE), Melbourne.

McGraw, A. & Vass, A. (2015, Nov). Engaging in authentic conversations with students about reading. Victorian Association for the Teaching of English (VATE), Melbourne.

McGraw A., McDonough, S. & Wines, C. (2015, Nov). Keynote presentation: Dispositions for Teaching: What are they? How can they be enhanced in teacher education? And can they be meaningfully assessed? Research Sharing Day, Federation University, Melbourne

McGraw, A. & McDonough, S. (2015, July). Strengthening partnerships in teacher education: Building community, connections, and creativity. Australian Teacher Educators Association (ATEA), Darwin

McGraw, A. & Stewart, M. (2014, June). Where my future begins: Helping young people from low SES backgrounds to imagine future learning opportunities in higher education. Open Dialogue Conference, Federation University, Ballarat.

McGraw, A. (2014, Nov). Forum Speaker with John Hattie: Teacher Education: Where are we heading? Victorian Association for the Teaching of English (VATE), Melbourne.

McGraw, A. & Mason, M. (2014, Nov). Differentiating at VCE. Victorian Association for the Teaching of English (VATE), Melbourne.

McGraw, A, McDonough, S. & Wines, C. (2014, Nov). Researching our own practice: the evolving MTeach experience. Research Sharing Day, Federation University, Melbourne

Ying, I., McGraw, A. & Berry, M. (2013, July). Collaborative research as a patchwork of digital narratives. International Study Association for Teachers and Teaching (ISATT), Belgium.

McGraw, A. & Mason, M. (2013, Dec). A VATE Community of Practice: Teaching Reading. Victorian Association for the Teaching of English (VATE), Melbourne.

McGraw, A. & Mason, M. (2013, Dec). Frontloading what students know. Victorian Association for the Teaching of English (VATE), Melbourne.

McGraw, A. (July, 2011). Balance and counterbalance in professional learning. International Study Association for Teachers and Teaching (ISATT), Portugal.

McGraw, A. & Mason, M. (Dec. 2011). What does your teacher do to help you? Australian Association for the Teaching of English (AATE), Melbourne.

McGraw, A. (Dec. 2010). Writing from the contact zone. Victorian Association for the Teaching of English (VATE), Melbourne.

McGraw, A. (Dec. 2010). Keynote presentation: The challenge to capture complexity in teacher learning. South East Asian Teacher Educators conference, Hong Kong.

McGraw, A. (June, 2009). Shoving our way into young peoples’ lives: Taking off, giving up and linking back in. International Thinking Conference, Malaysia.

McGraw, A. & Cooper, M. (July, 2008). Reflections and Connections: Two teacher educators thinking about pedagogy and learning. Australian Teacher Educators Association (ATEA), Queensland.

McGraw, A. (2006, July). Nurturing the rhizome: Rethinking post-graduate pedagogy in the light of understandings about how we learn. Australian Teacher Educators Association (ATEA), Fremantle.

McGraw, A. (2005, May). The impact of complex social processes, observation and reflective thinking on teacher learning and practice. Redesigning Pedagogies Conference, Singapore.

McGraw, A. (July, 2005). Keynote presentation: What difference do teachers really make? Victorian Association for the Teaching of English (VATE), Melbourne.

McGraw, A. (July, 2005). Complex social processes at work in collaborative learning partnerships. International Thinking Conference, Melbourne.

Seminar presentations

  • ISATT International Conference, Bragga (2011)
  • Australian Association for the Teaching of English (AATE) National Conference (2011)
  • Second East Asian International Conference on Teacher Education, Hong Kong (2010)
  • Victorian Association for the Teaching of English State Conference, Melbourne (2010)
  • International Thinking Conference, Malaysia (2009)
  • Australian Teacher Educators Association (ATEA) National Conferences (2008, 2006, 2004)
  • Australian Association for Research in Education (AARE) National conferences (2007, 2004, 2001)
  • Keynote speaker, Redesigning Pedagogies Conference, Singapore (2006)
  • International Thinking Conference, Melbourne (2005)
  • Keynote speaker, VATE State Conference (2005

Associations

  • ISATT (International Study Association for Teachers and Teaching)
  • VATE (Victorian Association for the Teaching of English)
  • HERDSA (Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia)
  • ATEA (Australian Teacher Education Association)