Dr David Caldwell is an Associate Professor in English Language and Literacy in Education Futures.
David completed his Bachelor of Teaching, Bachelor of Arts(Hons) and Master of Arts in linguistics at Deakin University (Melbourne), and his PhD in linguistics at the University of Sydney. He then completed a post in Singapore where he worked as an Assistant Professor at the National Institute of Education in the School of English Language and Literature, before joining UniSA in 2014.
David’s research applies functional linguistics to a range of contemporary contexts, with a focus on the role language plays in learning, identity and inclusion. These contexts have included the on-field language practices of sports people, the... Read more
About me
Dr David Caldwell is an Associate Professor in English Language and Literacy in Education Futures.
David completed his Bachelor of Teaching, Bachelor of Arts(Hons) and Master of Arts in linguistics at Deakin University (Melbourne), and his PhD in linguistics at the University of Sydney. He then completed a post in Singapore where he worked as an Assistant Professor at the National Institute of Education in the School of English Language and Literature, before joining UniSA in 2014.
David’s research applies functional linguistics to a range of contemporary contexts, with a focus on the role language plays in learning, identity and inclusion. These contexts have included the on-field language practices of sports people, the language demands of NAPLAN and STEM, literacy practices on the APY Lands, English wordings on t-shirts in South-East Asia, the role of ‘Asia literacy’ in the Australian Curriculum, KanYe West’s hip-hop, and medical consultations between hospital patients and psychiatrists. Drawing on these various educational sites, ‘non-traditional’ texts, and marginalized language users, David aims to disrupt prescriptive discourses of language to facilitate social inclusion, and at the same time, demonstrate the value in understanding how language works to solve real-world problems. David is currently the co-series editor for the Bloomsbury series: Studies in Systemic Functional Linguistics and a co-conveyor of the AILA Research Network: Applied Linguistics in Sport.
David has more than 20 years experience teaching at a tertiary level, where he has taught a range of subjects in English language, literacy, and social linguistics. He has trained English language teachers for primary, secondary and tertiary level education in Australia and overseas. During his postgraduate studies, David taught in numerous primary school classrooms throughout Melbourne and Sydney. He currently provides professional learning sessions in English language and literacy to teachers and schools throughout South Australia.
About me
Australian Systemic Functional Linguistic Association (ASFLA)
International Association of Applied Linguistics (AILA)
Primary English Teaching Association Australia (PETAA)
About me
| Date | Title |
|---|---|
| 14/03/2023 |
Libraries the key to lifting students’ reading outcomes, https://www.theeducatoronline.com/k12/news/libraries-the-key-to-lifting-students-reading-outcomes--expert/282154 |
| 01/05/2022 |
Teaching writing in secondary schools: a story of professional learning, https://issuu.com/primecreativemedia-2016/docs/ems0522_lr |
| 09/02/2022 |
12 Weird Olympic Slang Terms You've Never Heard Before, https://www.lx.com/beijing-olympics/12-weird-olympic-slang-terms-youve-never-heard-before/48485/ |
| 19/02/2020 |
Sending love with an emoji, https://2ser.com/sending-love-with-an-emoji/, ID: 1236418380 |
| 27/09/2019 |
Want to really understand football culture? Here are 6 things to watch out for on Grand Final Day, https://theconversation.com/want-to-really-understand-football-culture-here-are-6-things-to-watch-out-for-on-grand-final-day-124088. ASR AUD 28,000, ID: 1178036760 |
| 19/10/2018 |
Where does the phrase 'heaps good come from, and is it uniquely South Australian?, https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-19/where-does-the-term-heaps-good-come-from/10071780 |
| 06/05/2018 |
Analysing a Player's Voice, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQpNhb8WW2A&feature=youtu.be.+YouTube+Views%3A+763 |
| 07/03/2018 |
Interview with Dr David Caldwell from the University of SA's School of Education on the My School website., https://www.facebook.com/9NewsAdelaide/videos/1824778574492770/. ASR AUD: 10,964 |
| 22/08/2017 |
Interview with Dr David Caldwell from the University of SA on Children's Book Week., https://www.facebook.com/9NewsAdelaide/videos/1743438372626791/. ASR AUD: 10,275 |
| 02/08/2017 |
NAPLAN results fuel debate, http://thewire.org.au/story/naplan-results-fuel-debate/ |
| 12/07/2016 |
Finally, Someone to Translate Australian Rules Football, https://www.wsj.com/articles/finally-someone-to-translate-australian-rules-football-1468337044 |
About me
Doctor of Philosophy University of Sydney
Master of Arts (Linguistics) Deakin University
Bachelor of Arts (Linguistics) Deakin University
Bachelor of Teaching (Primary) Deakin University
Research Areas
Systemic Functional Linguistics, Social Semiotics, Genre Pedagogy in Australian Schools, Sports Discourse, Aboriginal and TSI Education, Hip-hop Culture and Pedagogy
Projects (selected)
Being heard: Remixing critical literacy for active citizenship, with Windle, J & Baak, M, Primary English Teaching Association of Australia Research Grant: CAT–2: $70 157.99
Evaluation of language and literacy levels tool, Department for Education, SA: CAT–2: $62 701.00
Student perceptions about their literacy development and language(s) practices, with Nichols, S & Yoshida, R, Adelaide Secondary School of English: CAT–2: $34 000.00
LLIS: Language for Learning Improvement: Science Pilot Project: CAT–2:... Read more
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 |
4
|
| 2023 |
Open access
2
1
|
| 2022 |
|
| 2020 |
Open access
6
2
|
| 2020 |
82
57
40
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2025 |
|
| 2024 |
4
|
| 2022 |
|
| 2016 |
11
4
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2022 |
Open access
|
| 2022 |
Open access
2
|
| 2019 |
Open access
5
|
| 2018 |
1
|
| 2018 |
6
|
| 2016 |
3
|
| 2016 |
1
|
| 2016 |
2
|
| 2015 |
|
| 2014 |
|
| 2011 |
|
| 2011 |
|
| 2010 |
|
| 2009 |
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2025 |
|
| 2025 |
Open access
|
| 2024 |
Open access
2
|
| 2023 |
Open access
2
1
|
| 2021 |
Open access
|
| 2021 |
Open access
|
| 2021 |
Open access
|
| 2020 |
Open access
6
2
|
| 2020 |
82
57
40
|
| 2020 |
Open access
4
6
6
|
| 2018 |
Open access
|
| 2017 |
Open access
15
13
|
| 2017 |
Open access
|
| 2017 |
Open access
3
|
| 2015 |
16
13
1
|
| 2014 |
12
7
|
| 2009 |
Open access
26
|
| 2008 |
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2023 |
Open access
|
| 2012 |
|
| 2008 |
|
| Year | Output |
|---|---|
| 2020 |
Open access
|
| 2018 |
Open access
|
Series Editor
Martin, JR, Knox, J, & Caldwell, D (contracted), Bloomsbury studies in Systemic Functional Linguistics, Bloomsbury, London.
Industry Reports
Nichols, S, Caldwell, D, Yoshida, R & Ghan, N 2020, Language and learning transitions of new arrival youth, Report for the Department for Education (DfE), Multicultural Education and Languages Committee, DOI: 10.25954/60adef9d9b2cf.
Caldwell, D & Custance, B 2019a, Language and literacy levels, Report for the Department for Education (DfE).
Caldwell, D & Custance, B 2019b, Language and literacy levels: Evaluation Report for the Department for Education (DfE).
Paige, K, Caldwell, D, Elliott, K, O’Keeffe, L, Osborne, S, Roetman, P, Lloyd, D, Comber, B & Gosnell, S. 2018, Fresh water literacies transdisciplinary learning for place and eco justice, Final Report, ISBN: 10.13135/2384-8677/2773.
Walsh, J & Caldwell, D 2018, Language for learning Improvement: Science, Commissioned Evaluation Report: Department of Education.
Caldwell, D & MacGill, B 2016, WillPOWER bilingual program evaluation, Commissioned Evaluation Report: University of South Australia and Port Community.
Industry Resources
Custance, B & Caldwell, D 2020, Learning English: Achievement and Proficiency: LEAP Levels, Department for Education (DfE), SA, Hindmarsh.
Caldwell, D 2016, The footy dictionary: The Australian football English/Chinese dictionary, http://aufootycn.com/.
Cominos, N, Caldwell, D, & Gloede, K 2016, Language and literacy resource pack for South Australian Aboriginal Sports Academy, University of South Australia.
Theses
Caldwell, D 2011, The rhetoric of rap: a social semiotic analysis of KanYe West, Doctor of Philosophy (Linguistics), University of Sydney.
Caldwell, D 2006, The language of subjective well-being, Master of Arts (Linguistics), Deakin University.
Caldwell, D 2002, The post-match interview: an appraisal analysis of the language of AFL footballers and ABC journalists, Bachelor of Arts (First-Class Hons. [Linguistics]), Deakin University.
Research
Research Areas
Systemic Functional Linguistics, Social Semiotics, Genre Pedagogy in Australian Schools, Sports Discourse, Aboriginal and TSI Education, Hip-hop Culture and Pedagogy
Projects (selected)
Being heard: Remixing critical literacy for active citizenship, with Windle, J & Baak, M, Primary English Teaching Association of Australia Research Grant: CAT–2: $70 157.99
Evaluation of language and literacy levels tool, Department for Education, SA: CAT–2: $62 701.00
Student perceptions about their literacy development and language(s) practices, with Nichols, S & Yoshida, R, Adelaide Secondary School of English: CAT–2: $34 000.00
LLIS: Language for Learning Improvement: Science Pilot Project: CAT–2: Department of Education: $45 455.00
Digital literacy champions: Exemplary practice for 21st Century English Teaching: UniSA: URIPA Seed and Mentoring Grant: $14 434.80
Real Language in Real Time: Tracking the On-field Language Practices of SAASTA Students in the Aboriginal Power Cup: UniSA/Australian Government: Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Program: $94 719.00
Fresh water literacies: An interdisciplinary international study with primary teachers and researchers: UniSA: Research Themes Investment Scheme Seed Funding Grant: $34 606.00
Language, literacy and learning in cosmopolitan Asia: a study tour of Singapore’s National Institute of Education for Australian pre-service teachers: Australian Government, New Colombo Plan: $36 000.00
Co-convener, Applied Linguistics in Sport: International Association of Applied Linguistics (2018–)
Editorial Board, Linguistics and Education (2018–)
Editorial Board, Australian Journal of Language and Literacy (2018–)
Committee member, Catholic Education of South Australia’s Learning, Wellbeing and Inclusion Standing Committee (2020–)
State representative, Australian Systemic Functional Linguistics Association (2016–)
Committee member, Australian Literacy Educators’ Association, South Australia (2015–2016)
Department for Education (South Australia): program design, program evaluations, consultancy (2016–)
The National Institute of Education (Singapore): MOU signing (2017)
The Port Adelaide Football Club: online Chinese/English Australian football dictionary, program evaluation report (2015–2017)
The Adelaide Football Club: pilot language tracking, STEM initiatives (2018–2019)
External engagement & recognition
| Organisation | Country |
|---|---|
| Australian Catholic University | AUSTRALIA |
| Department of Education | UNITED KINGDOM |
| Department of Human Services | UNITED STATES |
| Laramie County School District | UNITED STATES |
| Macquarie University | AUSTRALIA |
| South Australian Department of Education and Child Development | AUSTRALIA |
| State University of New York Buffalo | UNITED STATES |
| University of Adelaide | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Nevada, Las Vegas | UNITED STATES |
| University of New South Wales | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Queensland | AUSTRALIA |
| University of South Australia | AUSTRALIA |
| University of South Carolina - Columbia | UNITED STATES |
| University of Sydney | AUSTRALIA |
| University of Wyoming | UNITED STATES |
| Victoria University of Wellington | NEW ZEALAND |
External engagement & recognition
| Engagement/recognition | Year |
|---|---|
Co-ConvenorResearch Network: Applied Linguistics in Sport, International Association of Applied Linguistics |
2018 |
Editorial Board MemberLinguistics and Education |
2018 |
Editorial Board MemberAustralian Journal of Language and Literacy |
2018 |
MemberAustralian Systemic Functional Linguistics Association |
2018 |
MemberInternational Association of Applied Linguistics |
2018 |
MemberAustralian Literacy Educators' Association (ALEA) |
2018 |
Reviewer: English CoursesSACE Board of South Australia |
2018 |
Editorial Board MemberLinguistics and Education |
2017 |
Invited SpeakerAustralia-Singapore Cultural Leadership Forum, Department of Communication and the Arts, Australian Government, Adelaide |
2017 |
Invited SpeakerLinguistic Perspectives on the Mediatization of Sport, Universitat Siegen, Germany |
2017 |
MemberAustralian Literacy Educators' Association (ALEA) |
2017 |
MemberAustralian Systemic Functional Linguistics Association |
2017 |
Reviewer: English CoursesSACE Board of South Australia |
2017 |
Advisor, English CurriculumSouth Australian Anangu Lands Partnership |
2016 |
Board MemberAustralian Literacy Educators' Association (ALEA) |
2016 |
Keynote SpeakerAustralian Association for the Teaching of English (AATE)/Australian Literacy Educators Association (ALEA) National Conference, Adelaide |
2016 |
Language and Literacy Resource Pack for South Australian Aboriginal Sports AcademySouth Australian Aboriginal Sports Academy |
2016 |
MemberAustralian Systemic Functional Linguistics Association |
2016 |
Member and State Representative: South AustraliaAustralian Literacy Educators' Association (ALEA) |
2016 |
Reviewer: English CoursesSACE Board of South Australia |
2016 |
The Footy Dictionary: The Australian Football English/Chinese Dictionary: http://aufootycn.com/The Port Adelaide Football Club |
2016 |
Advisor, English CurriculumSouth Australian Anangu Lands Partnership |
2015 |
Board MemberAustralian Literacy Educators' Association (ALEA) |
2015 |
MemberAustralian Systemic Functional Linguistics Association |
2015 |
Member and State Representative: South AustraliaAustralian Literacy Educators' Association (ALEA) |
2015 |
Advisor, English CurriculumSouth Australian Anangu Lands Partnership |
2014 |
MemberAustralian Systemic Functional Linguistics Association |
2014 |
Executive CommitteeSingapore Association of Applied Linguistics |
2013 |
Executive CommitteeSingapore Association of Applied Linguistics |
2012 |
Convener, Australian Systemic Functional Linguistics Association: 2018 Conference: City West, UniSA, Adelaide
Teaching Areas
English Language and Literacy, Pre-Service and In-Service Teacher Training, Systemic Functional Linguistics, Social Semiotics, Multiliteracies
Awards
Education Futures: Staff Excellence Awards: Career Recognition Advanced Teaching Award (2023)
EASS: Academic Excellence Awards: High Achievement in Student Evaluation Attainment (Undergraduate Teaching) (2019)
EASS: Academic Excellence Awards: High Achievement in Student Evaluation Attainment (Undergraduate Teaching) (2018)
EASS: Academic Excellence Awards: High Achievement in Student Evaluation Attainment (Undergraduate Teaching) (2017)
Key Roles
Program Director: Master of Education, Master of Education (TESOL), Graduate Diploma/Certificate in Educational Studies (Digital Learning) (2018–2024)
Course Coordinator: first-year English Language and Literacy course (various titles) (2015–2024)
Study Tours
Language, literacy and learning in cosmopolitan Asia: a study tour of Singapore’s National Institute of Education for Australian pre-service teachers, with Soong, H, Australian Government: New Colombo Plan, $36 000.00 (2016) (self-funded from 2017–2019)
Teaching & student supervision
Teaching & student supervision
Supervisions from 2010 shown
| Thesis title | Student status |
|---|---|
| 144 - Experiences of Language Teachers in using AI | Current |
| Investigating young children's use of semiotic resources when participating in, and communicating about, their digital game play | Current |
| Reading the World | Current |
| Supporting the digital citizens of tomorrow: an analysis of pre-service teachers' training in multimodality and multiliteracies. | Current |
| Ways of using dialogic values and practices to initiate and sustain whole-school change in pedagogy, learning, wellbeing, leadership and governance | Current |
| What kind or quality of leadership which are effective in achieving improvement in student learning outcomes in literacy and numeracy | Current |
| An enquiry into identity and adjustment issues for Saudi Arabian students studying English in Australia | Completed |
| Constructions of femininities and learner identities of first-in-family girls transitioning from secondary school into Australian universities | Completed |
| The persuasive discourse of engineering: an investigation of professional writing | Completed |
