Dr Ruth Geer

Ruth is a lecturer in teacher education in the School of Education (Mawson Lakes Campus) at the University of South Australia. Over the years she has been in the role of Program Director across a number of programs. She currently teaches at undergraduate, graduate and post graduate levels across a number of courses including digital technology and professional experience courses. My doctoral thesis, completed in 2005, investigated interaction and cognition in online learning communities and hence my research interests and expertise are in the area of digital technologies.

Ruth is the leader of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Education Research Group in the School of Education with her expertise being in the digital technology component of STEM. Her teaching and research experience have provided her with expertise in the utilisation of digital technologies to enhance learning and teaching in both higher education institutions and school settings. Her experience as a secondary mathematics teacher and her knowledge of digital technology integration has provided her with the experience and expertise to research in this field where she is involved in a number of projects related to girls in STEM and the use of ipads in schools. Her personal research interests are in the development of effective online pedagogies and design, interactivity and cognition in online spaces, and the use of digital and mobile technologies to engage learners and thus enhance their learning. As she has a passion for supporting international students she is also researching in this space. Her publications span topics on e-learning, online communication patterns, TPACK as a pedagogical framework, social media, iPads and the cultural and pedagogical issues experienced by international students, and with presentations in these areas at national & international conferences.Other research interests include preservice teacher preparation, international student support and social media. 

Ruth has participated in a number of national, state and university research projects. Currently I am involved in the following projects:

• Transforming exams across Australia: processes and platforms for e-exams (OLT Grant);
• Celebrating Cultural Diversity Practicum Preparatory Program (OLT Extencion Grant)
• The impact of initial teacher education programs on PSTs self efficacy
• Videos as a predictive utility using adaptive comparative judgement;
• Disrupting deficit narratives of refugee students;
• Girls in STEM and
• The use of tablets for learning in schools

Computers Education Group of South Australia (CEGSA)

Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education (AACE)

Australian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education (ASCILITE)

Qualifications

• Doctor of Philosophy University of South Australia

• Master of Educational Studies (Educational Computing) University of South Australia

• Diploma of Education The University of Adelaide

• Graduate Diploma of Education (Computing) University of South Australia

• Graduate Diploma of Theology (Education) Lutheran Teachers College

• Bachelor of Arts The University of Adelaide

Work history

Program Director: Master of Teaching (Middle & Secondary) 2006-2012

Program Director: Graduate Diploma in Education 2006 - 2012

Acting Program Director: Bachelor of Education Graduate Entry, Bachelor of Education (Junior Primary & Primary) July-Dec 2005

Torrens Valley Institute of TAFE, Adult Community Lecturer 1989-1994

Secondary Teacher 1976-1981