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Professor Pauline Harris

  • Research Professor School of Education
  • Magill Campus (G1-20)
  • tel +61 8 830 24637
  • fax +61 8 830 24394
  • email Pauline.Harris@unisa.edu.au

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Alternative contact details

Research Assistant to the de Lissa Chair, Early Childhood (Research): Dr Eleni Giannakis 08 830 24137 (International: +61 8 830 24137); Eleni.Giannakis@unisa.edu.au

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About me

About me

Professor Pauline Harris

Professor Pauline Harris is the Lillian de Lissa Chair, Early Childhood (Research) at the University of South Australia, in partnership with  South Australia Department for Education and Childhood Development.

She has an outstanding international record with  expertise in children's language, literacy and literature; children's citizenship and voice; and the nexus of early childhood research, policy and practice.

She has authored six books, including  Children as Citizens: Engaging with the Child’s Voice in Educational Settings (Harris and Manatakis, 2013, Routledge). Her forthcoming book is Children’s multilingual literacy - Fostering childhood literacy in home and community settings (Harris, Brock,... Read more

School of Education

Training the socially-conscious educators of the future. Programs span early childhood, primary and secondary education.

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About me

Professor Pauline Harris is the Lillian de Lissa Chair, Early Childhood (Research) at the University of South Australia, in partnership with  South Australia Department for Education and Childhood Development.

She has an outstanding international record with  expertise in children's language, literacy and literature; children's citizenship and voice; and the nexus of early childhood research, policy and practice.

She has authored six books, including  Children as Citizens: Engaging with the Child’s Voice in Educational Settings (Harris and Manatakis, 2013, Routledge). Her forthcoming book is Children’s multilingual literacy - Fostering childhood literacy in home and community settings (Harris, Brock, Camaitoga, Carter, Diamond, McInnes, Krishna, Neill, 2018, Springer)

As lead researcher of collaborative teams, Professor Harris has led development of new knowledge and methods for:

• Engaging with young children as citizens to enhance their participation

• Operationalising socio-culturally inclusive and educationally, sociologically and linguistically informed models of language/literacy development and education

• Strengthening relationships among research, policy and practice in early childhood and language/literacy education

Professor Harris was Lead Chief Investigator of an ARC Discovery Grant, The National English Curriculum: Understanding the development, interpretation and implementation of disciplinary knowledge, one of seven ARC Grants (three Discovery/Large and four ARC Small/Strategic) she has been awarded as Lead CI during her career. She also leads an AusAID Category 1 ADRAS-funded research project, Developing a Community Approach to Supporting Literacy for Preschoolers in Fiji. In total,

 Professor Harris completed her Doctoral studies at the  University of California Berkeley, where she won  two scholarships and a fellowship. She had previously completed her undergraduate studies at The University of Sydney, where her studies were supported by a teacher education Scholarship and where she won two Education Society prizes during the course of her studies and graduated Dux of her graduating year.

She worked as an early years’ teacher for the  New South Wales Department of Education  for several years She then took up an academic appointment at the University of Wollongong, where she worked for 20 years prior to commencing her current appointment.

In her role as de Lissa Chair and with a focus on early childhood (birth to eight years), Professor Harris:

• Leads the development and implementation of research projects and their application to policy and practice • Encourages and conducts research that is of strategic importance

• Facilitates collaborative and cross-disciplinary research with academics, policymakers, educators and other early childhood professionals, government agencies, and non-government and civic organisations

• Advises on implications of research findings for policy and practice

• Leads the formulation of professional development programs, postgraduate studies and postgraduate research.

Professor Harris is the Director of the de Lissa Early Childhood and Family Studies Research Group; and among other roles is adviser and researcher in child friendly and children’s voices initiatives and early years literacy initiatives.

Among other roles, Professor Harris was a foundation Board Member for the Australian Children's Early Childhood Quality Authority (ACECQA), and served on ACECQA’s Policy Advisory and Research Advisory Committees. She also sits on a number of international advisory boards and editorial boards, and co-edits the international Journal of Early Childhood Literacy. She engages with educators and other professionals in the field on an ongoing basis, and gives regular keynote addresses and professional development workshops that include topics on children’s rights, voices and participation; early years language and literacy learning, pedagogy and practice; and strengthening relationships between early childhood research, policy and practice.

Professor Harris' research awards include the international Alan C. Purves Award; and the Distinguished Achievement Award for research leadership, influence and impact, including community engagement, University of South Australia.

The position of de Lissa Research Chair is named in honour of  Lillian de Lissa and developed with support from the Lillian de Lissa Trust Fund. The position is a shared partnership between the University of South Australia and SA Department for Education and Child Development.

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Professional Associations

Early Childhood Australia

American Educational Research Association

Australian Association for Research in Education

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Experience

Qualifications

  • Doctorate in Education University of California

  • Master of Arts in Education The University of Sydney

  • Bachelor of Education with Honours The University of Sydney

Work history

Present:

The Lillian de Lissa Chair, Early Childhood (Research),  School of Education, University of South Australia, in partnership with  South Australia Department for Education & Child Development

 

Previous:

Associate Professor, University of Wollongong

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Research

Research themes

  • An age friendly world
  • Transforming societies

Research focus

  • Curriculum and Pedagogy
  • Specialist Studies in Education
  • Education
  • Education Systems
  • Language Studies

Highlights

Research interests fall into three broad areas:

Language, literacy and literary studies - with a focus on language and literacy development and education, especially early childhood and primary school years, and the importance  of sociocultural inclusivity and children's agency, voice and play.

Children’s rights, voices and citizenship participation and education - with a focus on authentic dialogic approaches to engaging with children, especially those living in vulnerable circumstances.

Education policy and curriculum studies - with a focus on understanding and strengthening relationships among research, policy and practice, especially in early years and in literacy.

 

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Research

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Projects

Excludes commercial-in-confidence projects.

  • The National English Curriculum: Understanding the development, interpretation and implementation of disciplinary knowledge, ARC - Discovery Projects, 28/07/2010 - 30/09/2016

  • DeLissa Fund Research Assistant to the DeLissa chair, Early Childhood (research) (Professor Pauline Harris), Public Trustee, 01/06/2013 - 31/05/2016

  • Developing a community approach to supporting literacy for pre-schoolers (Fiji), AUSAID - Australian Development Research Awards, 23/04/2013 - 01/05/2016

Other projects

P. Harris, E. McInnes, B. Neill, partnering with C. Brock (University of Wyoming USA), City West CCC and Teton Literacy Center (USA), 2016-17, University of South Australia End User Engagement Scheme (Division of Education, Arts & Social Sciences) - Developing an ecological approach for supporting young children’s literacy in their home languages and English: A pilot study

P. Harris, A. Glover, E. McInnes, J. Carter, A. Diamond, C. Brock, B. Neill, partnering with National Council of Women Fiji and Early Childhood Consultant Ufemia Camaitoga, 2013-17, Category 1 Australian Aid Development Research Awards Scheme - Developing a collaborative community approach to support preschoolers’ vernacular and English language and literacy development in Fijian communities without access to early childhood services.

P. Harris, S. Nichols, E. McInnes, J. Webb-Williams, J. Sisson, A. Peterson, partnering with South Australia Department for Education & Child Development, UNICEF Australia and Save the Children, 2014-15, de Lissa Trust - Education and participation of preschool children as active citizens living in priority circumstances.

P. Harris, 2010-11, de Lissa Trust - Consulting with children: investigating procedures for engaging children’s voices to inform policy directions.

P. Harris, H. Chen, B. Derewianka, L. Kervin, B. McKenzie, J. Turbill, P. Fitzsimmons, 2010-6, Category 1 Australian Research Council Discovery - The National English Curriculum: Understanding the development, interpretation and implementation of disciplinary knowledge.

P. Harris, B. Derewianka, H. Chen, P. Fitzsimmons, L. Kervin, J. Turbill, K. Cruickshank, B. McKenzie, D. Konza, 2007-9, Category 1 Australian Research Council Discovery - Towards a literacy research agenda: investigating the relationship between literacy teaching, research and policy.

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Outputs

Research since 2008 is shown below. To see earlier years visit ORCID or Scopus

Open access indicates that an output is open access.

Highlights

Year Output
2018

Harris, P, Brock, C, Diamond, A, McInnes, E, Neill, B, Camaitoga, U & Krishna, M 2018, '"You, us and a bus": exploring analysis as cross-cultural collaboration in Fiji', in S Madrid Akpovo, MJ Moran & R Brookshire (eds), Collaborative cross-cultural research methodologies in early care and education contexts, Routledge, US, ch. 11, pp. 169-186.

1
2017

Harris, P, McInnes, E, Brock, C, Neill, B, Diamond, A, Carter, J & Camaitoga, U 2017, Fostering preschool literacy in Fiji's communities, University of South Australia, Australia.

Open access
2015

Harris, P 2015, ''Words and stuff': exploring children's perspectives of classroom reading in the early school years', Australian journal of language and literacy, vol. 38, no. 1, pp. 27-37.

Open access 1
2013

Harris, P & Manatakis, H 2013, 'Young children's voices about their local communities', Australasian journal of early childhood, vol. 38, no. 3, pp. 68-76.

7 5
2013

Harris, P & Manatakis, H 2013, Children as citizens : engaging with the child's voice in educational settings, Routledge, Abingdon, Oxon.

Books

Year Output
2013

Harris, P & Manatakis, H 2013, Children as citizens : engaging with the child's voice in educational settings, Routledge, Abingdon, Oxon.

2009

Harris, P 2009, Language learning in the baby and toddler years, David Barlow Publishing, NSW, Australia.

Chapters

Year Output
2018

Harris, P, Brock, C, Diamond, A, McInnes, E, Neill, B, Camaitoga, U & Krishna, M 2018, '"You, us and a bus": exploring analysis as cross-cultural collaboration in Fiji', in S Madrid Akpovo, MJ Moran & R Brookshire (eds), Collaborative cross-cultural research methodologies in early care and education contexts, Routledge, US, ch. 11, pp. 169-186.

1
2016

Harris, P 2016, 'In dialogue with children: Exploring children's views of literacy practices in their early childhood settings', in CJ McLachlan & AW Arrow (eds), Literacy in the early years: Reflections on international research and practice, Springer, Singapore, ch. 2, pp. 21-42.

2009

Chen, H & Harris, P 2009, 'Learning to become school-literate parents of ESL children', in A Mahboob & C Lipovsky (eds), Studies in applied linguistics and language learning, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, Newcastle upon Tyne, ch. 13, pp. 226-243.

Journal Articles

Year Output
2018

Sisson, JH, Giovacco-Johnson, T, Harris, P, Stribling, J & Webb-Williams, J 2018, 'Collaborative professional identities and continuity of practice: a narrative inquiry of preschool and primary teachers', Early years, online, pp. 1-16.

2016

Farndale, A, Harris, P & de Courcy, M 2016, 'Social, emotional, and linguistic experiences of developing bilingual preschoolers as they learn English as an Additional Language (EAL)', The international journal of learning, vol. 23, pp. 41-58.

Open access
2015

Harris, P 2015, ''Words and stuff': exploring children's perspectives of classroom reading in the early school years', Australian journal of language and literacy, vol. 38, no. 1, pp. 27-37.

Open access 1
2013

Harris, P & Manatakis, H 2013, 'Young children's voices about their local communities', Australasian journal of early childhood, vol. 38, no. 3, pp. 68-76.

7 5
2013

Harris, P, Chinnappan, M, Castleton, G, Carter, J, de Courcy, M & Barnett, J 2013, 'Impact and consequence of Australia's National Assessment Program - Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) - using research evidence to inform improvement', TESOL in context, vol. 23, no. 1-2, pp. 30-52.

Open access
2010

Harris, P 2010, ''At a school like this' Implementing policy in a kindergarten reading program', International research in early childhood education, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 50-59.

2010

Harris, P 2010, 'Mediating relationships across research, policy, and practice in teacher education', Studying teacher education, vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 75-93.

1
2010

Harris, P, Turbill, J, Kervin, L & Harden-Thew, K 2010, 'Mapping the archive : an examination of research reported in AJLL 2000-2005', Australian journal of language and literacy, vol. 33, no. 3, pp. 173-196.

2009

Chen, H & Harris, P 2009, 'Becoming school literate parents : an ESL perspective', Australian journal of language and literacy, vol. 32, no. 2, pp. 118-135.

2008

Harris, PJ, McKenzie, B, Chen, H, Kervin, L & Fitzsimmons, P 2008, 'A Critical Examination of the Nexus Between Literacy Research, Policy and Practice ', English in Australia, vol. 43, no. 1, pp. 57-64.

1

Conferences

Year Output
2011

Harris, P 2011, ''It's got exactly the same chook running in the wood' : children's sense of intertextual boundaries in the early school years', in J Wright (ed.), 2011 AARE International Research in Education Conference, AARE, paper code: 00386, pp. 1-17.

Open access
2011

Harris, P 2011, 'When you're five, things are not always easy : what children say about their classroom literacy experiences', in J Wright (ed.), 2011 AARE International Research in Education Conference, AARE, paper code: 00659, pp. 1-23.

Open access
2009

Chen, H & Harris, PJ 2009, 'Recontextualisation as a framework for understanding relationships among literacy research, policy and practice', 2008 Australian Association for Research in Education Conference, AARE.

2009

Harris, PJ 2009, 'Key Issues and Future Directions in the Nexus of Literacy Research, Policy and Practice', Changing Climates : Education for Sustainable Futures - Australian Association of Research in Education International Conference, AARE.

Open access

Reports

Year Output
2017

Harris, P, McInnes, E, Brock, C, Neill, B, Diamond, A, Carter, J & Camaitoga, U 2017, Fostering preschool literacy in Fiji's communities, University of South Australia, Australia.

Open access
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Research

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Current research & highlights

Research interests fall into three broad areas:

Language, literacy and literary studies - with a focus on language and literacy development and education, especially early childhood and primary school years, and the importance  of sociocultural inclusivity and children's agency, voice and play.

Children’s rights, voices and citizenship participation and education - with a focus on authentic dialogic approaches to engaging with children, especially those living in vulnerable circumstances.

Education policy and curriculum studies - with a focus on understanding and strengthening relationships among research, policy and practice, especially in early years and in literacy.

 

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  • Outputs
  • Current research & highlights
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External engagement & recognition

Collaborations

Highlights

Advisor to and author/presenter of professional development for the Aboriginal Reading Program's "Every Aboriginal Child a Capable and Competent Reader" initiative, South Australia Department for Education & Child Development. (2017-ongoing)

Advisor to and author/presenter of professional development for the South Australia Department for Education & Child Development's Statewide Early Years Literacy Professional Development Program (2015-ongoing)

Board member, Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (by Ministerial nomination) (2011-2016)

Policy Advisory Committee, Australian Children's Education & Care Quality Authority (2013-2016)

Australian Research Council’s Research Evaluation Committee, Education & Human Society (2012-5)

Research Advisory Committee, Australian Children's Education & Care Quality Authority (2012-2016)

Co-editor of international Journal of Early Childhood Literacy (2012-2017)

Guest editor, Emergent Biliteracy issue of Journal of Early Childhood Literacy (2012)

Editorial Board member, Australian Journal of Language & Literacy (ongoing)

Adviser & researcher in Child Friendly and Children’s Voices Initiatives across Australia (ongoing) Australian Research Council - Assessor Research Grants (ongoing)

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External engagement & recognition

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Collaborations

Organisation Country
Department for Education and Child Development AUSTRALIA
Fiji Early Childhood Teachers' Association FIJI
Fiji National University FIJI
National Council of Women Fiji FIJI
South Australia Department for Education and Child Development AUSTRALIA
University of South Australia AUSTRALIA
University of Wollongong AUSTRALIA
University of Wyoming UNITED STATES
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External engagement & recognition

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External engagement & recognition

Engagement/recognition Year

Adviser

Child Friendly and Children Voices Initiatives across Australia

2018

Advisor, author and presenter of professional development for Statewide Early Years Literacy Professional Development Program

Department for Education and Child Development, Government of South Australia

2018

Advisor, author and presenter of professional development for the Aboriginal Reading Program

Department for Education and Child Development, Government of South Australia

2018

Assessor Research Grants

Australian Research Council (ARC)

2018

Board member

Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA)

2018

Editorial Board Member

Australian Journal of Language and Literacy

2018

Editorial Board Member

International Journal of Early Childhood Literacy

2018

Member

Early Childhood Australia

2018

Member

American Educational Research Association (AERA)

2018

Member

Australian Association for Research in Education

2018

Policy Advisory Committee

Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA)

2018

Adviser

Child Friendly and Children Voices Initiatives across Australia

2017

Advisor, author and presenter of professional development for Statewide Early Years Literacy Professional Development Program

Department for Education and Child Development, Government of South Australia

2017

Advisor, author and presenter of professional development for the Aboriginal Reading Program

Department for Education and Child Development, Government of South Australia

2017

Assessor Research Grants

Australian Research Council (ARC)

2017

Board member

Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA)

2017

Co-Editor

International Journal of Early Childhood Literacy

2017

Editorial Board Member

Australian Journal of Language and Literacy

2017

Member

Early Childhood Australia

2017

Member

American Educational Research Association (AERA)

2017

Member

Australian Association for Research in Education

2017

Policy Advisory Committee

Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA)

2017

Advisor, author and presenter of professional development for Statewide Early Years Literacy Professional Development Program

Department for Education and Child Development, Government of South Australia

2016

Board member

Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA)

2016

Co-Editor

International Journal of Early Childhood Literacy

2016

Member, Research Advisory Committee

Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA)

2016

Policy Advisory Committee

Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA)

2016

Advisor, author and presenter of professional development for Statewide Early Years Literacy Professional Development Program

Department for Education and Child Development, Government of South Australia

2015

Board member

Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA)

2015

Co-Editor

International Journal of Early Childhood Literacy

2015

Member, Research Advisory Committee

Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA)

2015

Policy Advisory Committee

Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA)

2015

Board member

Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA)

2014

Co-Editor

International Journal of Early Childhood Literacy

2014

Member, Research Advisory Committee

Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA)

2014

Policy Advisory Committee

Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA)

2014

Board member

Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA)

2013

Co-Editor

International Journal of Early Childhood Literacy

2013

Member, Research Advisory Committee

Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA)

2013

Policy Advisory Committee

Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA)

2013

Board member

Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA)

2012

Co-Editor

International Journal of Early Childhood Literacy

2012

Committee Member, Research Evaluation Committee, Education & Human Society for ERA

Australian Research Council (ARC)

2012

Guest editor, Emergent Biliteracy issue

Journal of Early Childhood Literacy

2012

Member

Adelaide Thinkers-In-Residence Program - Partner Group for 2012 Residency of Professor Carla Rinaldi

2012

Member, Research Advisory Committee

Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA)

2012

Board member

Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA)

2011
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Teaching & student supervision

Teaching strengths

  • Early years language and literacy learning
  • Early years language and literacy education
  • Children's active citizenship, voice,participation
  • Play in children's lives and education

Highlights

As a Research Chair at the University of South Australia, in partnership with SA Department for Education and Child Development, Professor Harris leads professional development workshops and presents guest lectures in the following areas:

• Children’s rights, voices and participation as active citizens

• Early year’s language and literacy learning, pedagogy and practice

• Children's literature in the early years

• Strengthening relationships between early childhood research, policy and practice

• Research leadership and mentoring

• Research methods.

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Courses and programs

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Research degree supervision

Supervisions from 2010 shown

Thesis title Student status
Early childhood students and international transitions Current
Omani early childhood curriculum in light of national association of young children education (naeyc) developmentally appropriate practice Current
The quality of early childhood teachers education preparation program at Sultan Qaboos University Current
Bilingual preschoolers' social interactions, emotional challenges, and functional language use while learning English as an additional language Completed
I'm a reader: engaging young children's voices about their reading in preschool and the first year of school Completed
The role of family context in five-year-old children's early reading: interest in reading, phonological awareness and letter-word knowledge Completed
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Gallery

Professor Pauline Harris
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