Sue Nichols is a professor in UniSA Education Futures. Her research in the fields of literacy, parent involvement, children's digital engagement, practitioner inquiry and inclusive education has been supported by international, national and university grants. Her research crosses diverse contexts including health services, libraries, universities, school classrooms, kindergartens, shopping malls and religious organisations. As society increasingly moves into online spaces, her research and teaching has followed, investigating changing literacy and learning practices. She has written about these issues from the perspectives of learning ecologies, networks, social relations and identity formation. In 2023, Sue was awarded a... Read more
About me
Sue Nichols is a professor in UniSA Education Futures. Her research in the fields of literacy, parent involvement, children's digital engagement, practitioner inquiry and inclusive education has been supported by international, national and university grants. Her research crosses diverse contexts including health services, libraries, universities, school classrooms, kindergartens, shopping malls and religious organisations. As society increasingly moves into online spaces, her research and teaching has followed, investigating changing literacy and learning practices. She has written about these issues from the perspectives of learning ecologies, networks, social relations and identity formation. In 2023, Sue was awarded a British Academy Fellowship to conduct research on children's digital engagement in the UK. She is the author of five scholarly books and numerous chapters and journal articles.
About me
Australian Association for Research in Education, American Educational Research Association, British Educational Research Association, Literacy Research Association, International Socioogical Association
About me
About me
Doctorate of Philosophy University of South Australia
Graduate Diploma of Education South Australian College of Advanced Education
Bachelor of Education (Honours) Flinders University
After working as a secondary teacher in South Australian schools for 9 years, Sue commenced her doctorate in 1993. She began work as a learning advisor at Flinders University in 1997, before taking up her first appointment at the University of South Australia in 1999. She has held appointments at Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, Associate Professor and Professor levels. She has directed academic programs at postgraduate level, written curriculum for research degree and English curriculum courses, and coordinated large core courses for pre-service educators. She was Associate Head of School Research for the School of Education, University of South Australia, 2017 - 2020 and is currently Chair of the Professoriate, Education Futures.
Children's Digital Lives, Participatory Inquiry and Creative Engagement, British Academy International Fellowship, 2023
Parent Involvement Goes Online: Towards new ecologies of school-home connectivity, Australian Research Council ARC DP 210101226, with K. Dooley (QUT), H. Soong, UniSA & M. Neumann (USC), 2021 - 2024
Research
Excludes commercial-in-confidence projects.
Parent involvement goes online: New ecologies of school-home relations, ARC - Discovery Projects, 12/04/2021 - 13/12/2024
Harnessing Children's Picture Books to Transform Conversations About Pain, with S. Wallwork (lead CI), L. Mosely, M. Noel, & A. Jordan (2023)
Influencers and Student Success, (2020) Charles Darwin University Rainmakers Grant, with N. Rolls (lead), T. Woodroffe, & B. Zemits
New Arrival Youth Speak: Learning in school and beyond. (2019), with D. Caldwell & R. Yoshida (UniSA), Smolicz Foundation
Health Literacy, Health Numeracy and Health Information Seeking of Parents. (2018) RTIS Grant, University of South Australia, with M. Leach, S. Trenholm & M. Jones
Intersectionality as a Lens to Explore the FirstYear Student Experience, URIPA grant, Division of Education Arts and Social Sciences, 2017, with G. Stahl
Connected Reading for Families and Children. 2016. Ian Potter Foundation, with S. Hill (UniSA)
Young Men's Trajectories Identities and Networks in the Post-School year, Hawke Research Institute Seed Funding Grant, (2013 - 2015), with G. Stahl
Literacy resource networks: Investigating the production, circulation and transformation of literacy teaching resources. (2011).With P. Harris & J. Carter, University of South Australia
Parents’ networks: The Circulation of Knowledge about Children’s Literacy Development. (2007 – 9), with H. Nixon & J. Rowsell (Rutgers University). Australian Research Council DP 0770720
Evaluating an Educational Program to Raise Awareness of Safe Behaviours Around Dogs: Children’s recall, knowledge integration and application. (2009), with K. Thompson & S. Blunden. SA Department of Environment and Heritage
Investigating the Impact of Practitioner Inquiry on Professional Identity, Professional Practice and Organisational Knowledge. (2008 – 9), with P. Cormack & K. Hodgetts. SA Department of Education and Children’s Services
Parent Partnership in a New Service Landscape: Policy and provider perspectives. (2006), with E. McInnes, University of South Australia
Research
Research outputs for the last seven years are shown below. Some long-standing staff members may have older outputs included. To see earlier years visit ORCID, ResearcherID or Scopus
Open access indicates that an output is open access.
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2024 |
Open access
5
4
|
| 2022 |
Open access
21
18
11
|
| 2022 |
|
| 2019 |
Open access
4
2
|
| 2019 |
121
96
33
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2022 |
|
| 2018 |
36
|
| 2017 |
|
| 2017 |
6
|
| 2012 |
22
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2022 |
|
| 2022 |
|
| 2022 |
|
| 2022 |
|
| 2022 |
|
| 2022 |
|
| 2022 |
|
| 2022 |
|
| 2022 |
|
| 2022 |
|
| 2020 |
Open access
|
| 2018 |
1
|
| 2018 |
Open access
|
| 2018 |
1
|
| 2017 |
Open access
13
|
| 2017 |
|
| 2015 |
4
|
| 2014 |
3
|
| 2013 |
5
|
| 2012 |
1
|
| 2011 |
|
| 2009 |
|
| 2008 |
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2025 |
Open access
|
| 2024 |
7
6
5
|
| 2024 |
263
|
| 2024 |
Open access
5
4
|
| 2023 |
Open access
1
|
| 2022 |
Open access
21
18
11
|
| 2021 |
5
2
9
|
| 2021 |
Open access
5
4
|
| 2020 |
1
|
| 2019 |
Open access
4
2
|
| 2019 |
121
96
33
|
| 2017 |
Open access
4
3
24
|
| 2017 |
Open access
1
|
| 2017 |
52
40
10
|
| 2015 |
|
| 2015 |
Open access
1
1
|
| 2014 |
|
| 2013 |
14
5
|
| 2012 |
Open access
|
| 2012 |
Open access
|
| 2011 |
14
12
|
| 2011 |
Open access
|
| 2011 |
|
| 2011 |
32
22
|
| 2010 |
|
| 2009 |
Open access
18
12
|
| 2009 |
4
3
|
| 2009 |
52
39
|
| 2008 |
Open access
20
16
|
| 2008 |
|
| 2008 |
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2008 |
|
| 2008 |
Open access
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2020 |
Open access
|
| 2019 |
|
| 2010 |
|
| 2010 |
Open access
|
Nichols, S. & Rolls, N. (2023) Making the leap and going the distance: Social influences on students’ entry into and persistence in higher education. British Educational Research Association Conference, Birmingham, Sept 12 – 14.
Soong, H., Nichols, S. & Dooley, K. (2023) Contesting the framing of digital risk in children’s social lives. XX ISA World Congress of Sociology, Melbourne, June 25th – July 1st.
Nichols, S. & Todd, L. (2023) Participatory visual approaches: Enabling insight into the complex in- and out-of-school lives of children and youth. XX ISA World Congress of Sociology, Melbourne, June 25th – July 1st.
Wallwork, S., Noel, M., Nichols, S., Jordan, A. & Moseley, G. L. (2023) Let's talk about pain! Shared picture-book reading as an opportunity for children to learn about pain and injury. Poster presentation, Canadian Pain Society 43rd Annual Scientific Meeting, Banff, May 10 – 12
Nichols, S., Soong, H. & Dooley, K. (2022) The place of school in children’s digital and material networks. Australian Association for Research in Education Conference, Adelaide, Nov 27 – Dec 1.
Nichols, S. (2022) Investigating children’s literacies in digitally mediated interactions. Literacy Research Association Conference, Phoenix Arizona, Nov 29 – Dec.
Nichols, S. (2022) Beyond binaries: Textualizing in literacy teacher education. Literacy Research Association Conference, Phoenix Arizona, Nov 29 – Dec
Nichols, S., Neumann, M. & Soong, H. (2022) ‘How Do You Connect?’ Investigating children’s digitally mediated interactions with significant others. British Educational Research Association Conference, Liverpool, Sept 6 – 8.
Nichols, S. (2022) ‘‘How Do You Connect?’ Investigating children’s use of apps for interacting with family, friends and others. Australian Institute of Family Studies Conference, Melbourne, June 15 – 17. https://aifs2022.paperlessevents.com.au/themes/343
Nichols, S. & Selim, N. (2022) Digitally mediated parent involvement: A review of the evidence. Australian Institute of Family Studies Conference, Melbourne, June 15 – 17. https://aifs2022.paperlessevents.com.au/themes/347
Nichols, S. & Carter, J. (2021) Pedagogical inquiry into supporting oral language for learning. Australian Association for Research in Education Conference, online, Nov 28 – Dec 2, Melbourne and online.
Nichols, S., McCann, N. & Barr, A. (2021) Oral language and multimodality for communicating knowledge. Australian Association for Research in Education Conference, online, Nov 28 – Dec 2, Melbourne and online.
Nichols, S., Dooley, K., Neumann, M. Soong, H. & Selim, N (2021) Parent involvement goes online: Towards a new ecology of school-home-world connectivity. Australian Association for Research in Education Conference, Nov 28 – Dec 2, Melbourne and online.
Nichols, S. M. (2020) Invitation to Talk: Investigating English-as-an-Additional-Language Children's Competence in Oral Composition and Performance. AERA Annual Meeting San Francisco, CA https://aera20-aera.ipostersessions.com/default.aspx?s=A8-D4-E4-58-FE-55-7F-99-36-1C-B6-88-B1-4B-90-3B (Conference converted to digital)
Nichols, S. M. & Memon, N. (2020) Cross-Currents in Communication to and About Parents: An Analysis of Islamic School Websites [Poster Session]. AERA Annual Meeting San Francisco, CA https://aera20-aera.ipostersessions.com/default.aspx?s=F9-EE-EB-2A-A1-EB-C3-69-1C-2D-CD-15-EA-7D-95-99 (Conference converted to digital)
Loh, C. & Nichols, S. M. (2020) An Actor Network Analysis of Libraries as Informal Learning Environments [Roundtable Session]. AERA Annual Meeting San Francisco, CA https://aera20-aera.ipostersessions.com/default.aspx?s=DC-F1-15-AB-28-80-0A-36-B0-1F-F1-73-07-B7-FB-EA (Conference converted to digital)
Research
Children's Digital Lives, Participatory Inquiry and Creative Engagement, British Academy International Fellowship, 2023
Parent Involvement Goes Online: Towards new ecologies of school-home connectivity, Australian Research Council ARC DP 210101226, with K. Dooley (QUT), H. Soong, UniSA & M. Neumann (USC), 2021 - 2024
Sue has contributed to the educational research profession through her service on the Executive of the Australian Association for Research in Education, her role as National Convenor of the Language and Literacy Special Interest Group (2014 - 2017), and her past membership of the Council of Associate Deans of Research in Education (2017 - 2020).
She held the role of UniSA liaison for the Media Centre for Educational Research for (2017 - 2019) which involved connecting education researchers with opportunities to communicate in the media.
In 2023, she initiated a pilot Visiting Social Scientist program in two UK schools, as part of her British Academy Fellowship.
Her work in supporting the educational profession to engage in enquiry is reported in the book Impactful Practitioner Inquiry (2017) published by Teachers College Press.
External engagement & recognition
| Organisation | Country |
|---|---|
| Brock University | CANADA |
| Central Queensland University | AUSTRALIA |
| Deakin University | AUSTRALIA |
| Griffith University | AUSTRALIA |
| Institute of Teacher Education - University of Hawaii | UNITED STATES |
| Monash University | AUSTRALIA |
| Nanyang Technological University | SINGAPORE |
| Queensland University of Technology | AUSTRALIA |
| Southern Cross University | AUSTRALIA |
| State University of New Jersey | UNITED STATES |
| University of Bath | UNITED KINGDOM |
| University of Calgary | CANADA |
| University of Newcastle | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Queensland | AUSTRALIA |
| University of South Australia | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Sydney | AUSTRALIA |
External engagement & recognition
| Engagement/recognition | Year |
|---|---|
Invited LectureDoctors, friends and Google: Parents using child health information, Healthy Development Adelaide |
2021 |
Invited Scholar LectureTeaching and learning language and literacy: An inquiry approach, Sriwijaya University, Indonesia |
2021 |
Invited webinarWinning research funds from philanthropic organisations, Australian Council of Deans of Education |
2021 |
Invited webinarWinning research funds from philanthropic organisations, Australian Council of Deans of Education |
2020 |
Editorial Board MemberAustralasian Journal of Early Childhood |
2018 |
Editorial Board MemberAustralasian Journal of Early Childhood |
2017 |
Educational Research Advisory PanelMedia Centre for Educational Research |
2017 |
Executive memberAustralian Association for Research in Education (AARE) |
2017 |
MemberAustralian College of Educators |
2017 |
MemberAmerican Educational Research Association (AERA) |
2017 |
Steering group memberCouncil of Associate Deans of Research in Education |
2017 |
Sue has partnered with United Way to support children's literacy in disadvantaged communities and lead an evaluation of the organisation's Read Aloud Pals initiative.
She is on the Editorial Boards of the journals Research in the Teaching of English and Pedagogies.
Teaching & student supervision
Teaching & student supervision
Supervisions from 2010 shown
| Thesis title | Student status |
|---|---|
| An Ecological Case Study of the Digital Networks of Children with a Learning Difficulty, Disability, or other Educational Challenge | Current |
| Harnessing shared reading of picture books to promote health and wellbeing in children | Current |
| Investigating young children's use of semiotic resources when participating in, and communicating about, their digital game play | Current |
| Supporting the digital citizens of tomorrow: an analysis of pre-service teachers' training in multimodality and multiliteracies. | Current |
| Understanding the socialisation of pain in childhood | Current |
| A genealogy of policy, programs and practices for the management of the child with challenging behaviour in Prince Edward Island, Canada | Completed |
| An investigation into partnerships between mothers of children with disabilities and schools | Completed |
| Assembling the 21st century learner: teachers' perspectives, textual representations and the case of challenge based learning | Completed |
| Bilingual preschoolers' social interactions, emotional challenges, and functional language use while learning English as an additional language | Completed |
| Broadening horizons: an analysis of the health-care priority-setting of two Canadian community health boards | Completed |
| Cross-cultural mentorship of international medical graduates: the discursive formation of the ideal physician | Completed |
| Exploring the impact of a pedagogical intervention employing explicit, metalinguistic vocabulary instruction using technology: a practitioner action research study | Completed |
| On the periphery: classroom teacher accounts of including special needs students in Nova Scotia | Completed |
| Open space technology: complexity thinking, classroom discourse and mathematics learning in the elementary classroom | Completed |
| Parental partnership in the learning of children with learning disabilities in inclusive classes in Malaysia | Completed |
| Re-reading bullying in the institutional setting: an opportunity for change | Completed |
| Shopping...with children: investigating in-store shopping behaviour of adults accompanied by children | Completed |
| The knowledge economy goes to work: a critical analysis of policy and practice in Australian technology network universities and their libraries | Completed |
| The roles of parents in the literacy development of young children beginning school in South Australia and Israel | Completed |
| Thinking through multiplicities: movement, affect and the schooling experiences of young men with autism spectrum disorder | Completed |
| What do good readers do? Students' positioning within the reading classroom | Completed |
| Women music educators in institutions: pathways into, through and beyond Colleges of Advanced Education (CAEs) in Adelaide 1973-1990 | Completed |
