Adjunct Professor
Jim Watters
Faculty of Creative Industries, Education & Social Justice,
School of Teacher Education & Leadership
Biography
James Watters is a retired Associate Professor in Education at QUT. He currently holds the position of Adjunct Professor providing support to the faculty. His areas of research interest include:- learning in science and mathematics
- inquiry based science
- investigations in mathematics
- problem based learning
- gifted education.
- Jim has provided professional development in all these areas and has published research studies related to these areas. He has a strong commitment to apply research to practice.
- Jim has also a long standing interest in technology and technology supported learning.
- He has supervised over 30 PhD and research masters students working in these areas.
- He works extensively with education sectors to provide professional development and to explore effective ways of supporting teachers to challenge students gifted in science and mathematics
- Jim has received the QUT Award for Outstanding Contribution in 2000, Vice Chancellor's Award for Outstanding Service 2007, awards for science education and gifted education initiatives and awards for outstanding supervision of Domestic (2011) and International (2010) post-graduate students.
Personal details
Positions
- Adjunct Professor
Faculty of Creative Industries, Education & Social Justice,
School of Teacher Education & Leadership
Keywords
Aspects of mathematics learning - problem solving, Higher Education, Inquiry based learning., Science education, Science teacher education, education of gifted and creative children, primary science education, professional development of teachers, teaching science., technology education
Research field
Curriculum and pedagogy, Education systems
Field of Research code, Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC), 2020
Qualifications
- PhD (Griffith University)
- MEd(Hons) (University of New England)
- GDEd (University of Canberra)
- BSc(Hons) (University of Queensland)
Professional memberships and associations
- 2006 - present: Chair - Funding Committee - Non-State Schools Accreditation Board
- American Educational Research Association (AERA)
- National Association for Research in Science Teaching (NARST)
- Australasian Science Educators Research Association (ASERA)
- European Science Educators Research Association (ESERA)
Teaching
Teaching areas
- Primary and Secondary Science Curriculum
- Gifted Education
- Higher Education.
- Research methodology
Experience
In a forty year career, Jim has worked in public service, been an international scholar at the Max Planck Institute in Germany, taught high school science, taught university in both Faculties of Science and Education. His current responsibilities include teaching in science and educational/curriculum studies with a focus on science and gifted education. He also teachers research methodology to graduate students. He is currently active on the University Academic Board, University Appeals Committee, University Ethics in Human Research Committee, Faculty Promotions Committee and Masters course coordination committee. He has undertaken major reviews for government, contributed to government policy development, supported a range of educational sectors through professional developement and consultative services and has served on government and university committees at all levels. For example, he is Chair of the Non-State School Eligibility for Funding Commitee which makes recommendations to Government on the funding of independent (non-government) schools. He serves on committees advising the state Education Department and the Queensland Studies Authority. He is a long standing vice president of the Qld. Association for Gifted Students and ex vice President of the Australian Association for the Education of the Gifted and Talented.
Publications
- Watters, J. & Diezmann, C. (2013). Community partnerships for fostering student interest and engagement in STEM. Journal of STEM Education, 14(2), 47–55. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/59886
- Pillay, H., Watters, J. & Hoff, L. (2013). Critical attributes of public-private partnerships: A case study in vocational education. International Journal of Adult Vocational Education and Technology, 4(1), 31–45. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/59724
- Ireland, J., Watters, J., Brownlee, J. & Lupton, M. (2012). Elementary teacher's conceptions of inquiry teaching: Messages for teacher development. Journal of Science Teacher Education, 23(2), 159–175. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/45680
- Luus, S. & Watters, J. (2012). Gifted early adolescents' negotiating identity: A case study of self-presentation theory. Australasian Journal of Gifted Education, 21(2), 19–32. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/58688
- Al Sharija, M. & Watters, J. (2012). Innovative leadership by school principals: Embedding information communication and technology in Kuwaiti schools. Journal of International Education Research, 8(4), 425–434. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/58687
- Al Sharija, M., Qablan, A. & Watters, J. (2012). Principals, teachers, and student's perception of the information and communication technology in Kuwait secondary schools (rhetoric and reality). Journal of Education and Practice, 3(12), 91–99. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/58686
- Chandra, V. & Watters, J. (2012). Re-thinking physics teaching with web-based learning. Computers and Education, 58(1), 631–640. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/48835
- Al Shatti, S., Watters, J. & Kidman, G. (2012). Use of concept maps in reforming teaching Family and Consumer Sciences in Kuwait. Journal of the Home Economics Institute of Australia, 19(3), 15–22. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/59043
- Watters, J., (2010). Career decision making among gifted students: The mediation of teachers. Gifted Child Quarterly, 54(3), 222–238. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/47802
- English, L. & Watters, J. (2009). Mathematical modelling in the early school years. In V. Freiman, B. Sriraman & N. Lirette-Pitre (Eds.), Interdisciplinarity, Creativity, and Learning: Mathematics with Literature, Paradoxes, History, Technology, and Modeling (pp. 177–204). Information Age Publishing. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/31494
QUT ePrints
For more publications by Jim, explore their research in QUT ePrints (our digital repository).
Awards
- Type
- Advisor/Consultant for Industry
- Reference year
- 2010
- Details
- Reports for Ed Qld.Freebody, P. Watters, J. Lummis, S. (2002): Expanding Possible Futures: A Review of Education Queensland¿s Policy Statement on the Education of Gifted Students in Queensland Schools. Report to the Minister of Education, Education Queensland.
- Type
- Appointment to State/National/International Reference Group or Government Committees
- Reference year
- 2010
- Details
- Science Learning Area Reference Committee member charged with providing advice to the Queensland Studies Authority on its suite of K-12 syllabus documents.
- Type
- Appointment to Prestigious Positions
- Reference year
- 2010
- Details
- Reappointed for a further three years as Chairperson of the Non-State School Funding Committee.The Accreditation of non State school in Queensland Act provides for the appointment by the Governor in Council of the six members of the Non-State Schools Eligibility for Government Funding Committee.http://www.nssab.qld.edu.au/BoardsFunding/CommitteeMembers.htm
Selected research projects
- Title
- Industry-school Partnerships: A Strategy to Enhance Education and Training Opportunities
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- LP100200052
- Start year
- 2011
- Keywords
- Youth Employment; Education Policy; Industry-school Partnerships; Curriculum Innovation
- Title
- The Role Of Subject-Matter Knowledge In Teaching Science And Mathematics: Practices Of Teachers With Advanced Qualifications In The Sciences
- Primary fund type
- CAT 1 - Australian Competitive Grant
- Project ID
- DP0984349
- Start year
- 2009
- Keywords
- Beginning teachers; Subject matter knowledge; Mathematics education; Science education; Teaching practices; Teacher education
Projects listed above are funded by Australian Competitive Grants. Projects funded from other sources are not listed due to confidentiality agreements.
Supervision
Completed supervisions (Doctorate)
- Challenging Mathematically Gifted Middle Years Students: A Mastery Learning Model (2019)
- The Measurable Impacts of Australian Higher Education Reforms in an Era of Changing Policies (2019)
- Gifted Adolescent Wellbeing: An Australian Case Study (2018)
- The Social-Emotional Well-Being of The Gifted Child and Perceptions of Parent and Teacher Social Support (2018)
- Investigating Bhutanese Mathematics Teachers' Beliefs and Practices in the Context of Curriculum Reform (2016)
- School-Related Stress and Coping Process of Primary School Girls with Learning Disabilities in Saudi Arabia (2016)
- Approaches to Curriculum Development in Vietnamese Higher Education: A Case Study (2015)
- Industry-School Partnerships: An Ecological Case Study to Understand Operational Dynamics (2015)
Completed supervisions (Masters by Research)
The supervisions listed above are only a selection.