Professor Robyn Gillies
Professor

Robyn Gillies

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+61 7 336 56541

Background

Professor Robyn Gillies' major research interests are in the learning sciences, classroom discourses, small group processes, including co-regulated learning, classroom instruction, student behaviour, and students with disabilities. Professor Robyn Gillies has worked extensively in both primary and secondary schools to embed STEM education initiatives into the science curriculum. This includes helping teachers to embed inquiry skills into the science curricula so they capture students’ interests, provide opportunities for them to explore possible solutions to problems, explain phenomena, elaborate on potential outcomes, and evaluate findings. In short, through these investigations, students learn how to engage critically and constructively with others’ ideas, challenge and rebut proposals, and discuss alternative propositions. In so doing, they learn to talk and reason effectively together. These STEM education initiatives have been funded by research grants and contracts from the Australian Research Council, the Department of Education and Training (DET), the Queensland Museum Network (QMN), and the Office of Learning and Teaching (OLT). Professor Gillies is a Chief Investigator on the Science of Learning Research Centre (SLRC) where she has been instrumental in implementing two recent science-based research projects in primary and secondary schools to help teachers embed inquiry-science pedagogy into their science curricula. Her recommendations on how teachers can translate research into practice have been widely profiled in the international literature and on the website of the Smithsonian Science Education Center in Washington, DC.

Availability

Professor Robyn Gillies is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Education Education systems

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Educational Studies, The University of Queensland
  • Masters (Coursework) of Educational Studies (Adv), The University of Queensland
  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
  • Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), University of Southern Queensland

Research interests

  • Learning sciences

    Learning and teaching

  • Classroom discourses

    Teacher and student classroom discourses

  • Cooperative learning

  • Classroom instruction

    Pedagogical practices in the classroom

  • Educational psychology

  • Classroom behaviour

  • Guidance, Counselling and Careers

Search Professor Robyn Gillies’s works on UQ eSpace

278 works between 1989 and 2025
All (278) Journal Article (186) Book Chapter (42) Conference Publication (31) Book (11) Other Outputs (3) Edited Outputs (5)

161 - 180 of 278 works

2008

Journal Article

The effects of cooperative learning on junior high school students' behaviours, discourse and learning during a science-based learning activity

Gillies, R. (2008). The effects of cooperative learning on junior high school students' behaviours, discourse and learning during a science-based learning activity. School Psychology International, 29 (3), 328-347. doi: 10.1177/0143034308093673

The effects of cooperative learning on junior high school students' behaviours, discourse and learning during a science-based learning activity

2008

Book Chapter

Teachers' and students' verbal behaviours during cooperative learning

Gillies, Robyn M. (2008). Teachers' and students' verbal behaviours during cooperative learning. The teacher's role in implementing cooperative learning in the classroom. (pp. 243-262) edited by R. M. Gillies, A.F. Ashman and J. Terwel. New York, U.S.A. ; London, U.K.: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-0-387-70892-8

Teachers' and students' verbal behaviours during cooperative learning

2008

Journal Article

Review: Building a learning community in the primary classroom by Margaret Martin

Gillies, R. (2008). Review: Building a learning community in the primary classroom by Margaret Martin. Journal of Education for Teaching, 34 (1), 80-83. doi: 10.1080/02607470701773523

Review: Building a learning community in the primary classroom by Margaret Martin

2008

Conference Publication

High school teachers’ discourse and pedagogical practices during cooperative learning

Gillies, Robyn M. (2008). High school teachers’ discourse and pedagogical practices during cooperative learning. AARE 2007 International Educational Research Conference, Fremantle, W.A., Australia, 25-29 November 2007. Coldstream, Vic., Australia: Australian Association for Research in Education.

High school teachers’ discourse and pedagogical practices during cooperative learning

2008

Journal Article

Teachers’ discourse during cooperative learning and their perceptions of this pedagogical practice

Gillies, R. and Boyle, M. (2008). Teachers’ discourse during cooperative learning and their perceptions of this pedagogical practice. Teaching and Teacher Education, 24 (5), 1333-1348. doi: 10.1016/j.tate.2007.10.003

Teachers’ discourse during cooperative learning and their perceptions of this pedagogical practice

2008

Book Chapter

Concluding remarks

Gillies, Robyn M., Ashman, Adrian F. and Terwel, Jan (2008). Concluding remarks. The teacher’s role in implementing cooperative learning in the classroom. (pp. 258-261) edited by Robyn M. Gillies, Adrian Ashman and Jan Terwel. New York, NY United States: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-0-387-70892-8

Concluding remarks

2008

Journal Article

The effects of teacher discourse on students’ discourse, problem-solving and reasoning during cooperative learning

Gillies, R. and Khan, A. (2008). The effects of teacher discourse on students’ discourse, problem-solving and reasoning during cooperative learning. International Journal of Educational Research, 47 (6), 323-340. doi: 10.1016/j.ijer.2008.06.001

The effects of teacher discourse on students’ discourse, problem-solving and reasoning during cooperative learning

2008

Book Chapter

The teacher's role in implementing cooperative learning in the classroom: An introduction

Gillies, R. M., Ashman, A. F. and Terwel, J. (2008). The teacher's role in implementing cooperative learning in the classroom: An introduction. The Teacher's Role in Implementing Cooperative Learning in the Classroom. (pp. 1-8) edited by R. M. Gillies, A. F. Ashman and J. Terwel. New York, U.S.A.: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-0-387-70892-8

The teacher's role in implementing cooperative learning in the classroom: An introduction

2008

Journal Article

Cooperative learning (CL) and academic achievement of Asian students: A true story

Pham, Thi Hong Thanh, Gillies, Robyn and Renshaw, Peter (2008). Cooperative learning (CL) and academic achievement of Asian students: A true story. International Education Studies, 1 (3), 82-88. doi: 10.5539/ies.v1n3p82

Cooperative learning (CL) and academic achievement of Asian students: A true story

2007

Book

The teacher's role in implementing cooperative learning in the classroom

Gillies, R.M., Ashman, A.F. and Terwel, J. eds. (2007). The teacher's role in implementing cooperative learning in the classroom. Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning, Boston, MA, United States: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-0-387-70892-8

The teacher's role in implementing cooperative learning in the classroom

2007

Book Chapter

Teachers’ and students’ verbal behaviours during cooperative learning

Gillies, Robyn M. (2007). Teachers’ and students’ verbal behaviours during cooperative learning. The teacher’s role in implementing cooperative learning in the classroom. (pp. 238-257) edited by R. M. Gillies, A. F. Ashman and J. Terwel. New York, NY, United States: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-0-387-70892-8_12

Teachers’ and students’ verbal behaviours during cooperative learning

2007

Book

Cooperative Learning: Integrating Theory and Practice

Gillies, R. M. (2007). Cooperative Learning: Integrating Theory and Practice. 1 ed. Los Angeles, CA.: SAGE Publications. doi: 10.4135/9781483329598

Cooperative Learning: Integrating Theory and Practice

2007

Journal Article

Editorial

Gillies, Robyn M. (2007). Editorial. Australian Journal of Guidance & Counselling, 17 (1), iii-iv.

Editorial

2006

Journal Article

Teachers' and students' verbal behaviours during cooperative and small-group learning

Gillies, Robyn M. (2006). Teachers' and students' verbal behaviours during cooperative and small-group learning. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 76 (2), 271-287. doi: 10.1348/000709905X52337

Teachers' and students' verbal behaviours during cooperative and small-group learning

2006

Journal Article

Ten Australian elementary teachers' discourse and reported pedagogical practices during cooperative learning

Gillies, Robyn and Boyle, Michael (2006). Ten Australian elementary teachers' discourse and reported pedagogical practices during cooperative learning. Elementary School Journal, 106 (5), 429-451. doi: 10.1086/505439

Ten Australian elementary teachers' discourse and reported pedagogical practices during cooperative learning

2006

Conference Publication

Mind matters plus: A national project for secondary schools in Australia to improve their effectiveness in providing for students with high support needs in mental health

Griffiths, C. and Gillies, R. M. (2006). Mind matters plus: A national project for secondary schools in Australia to improve their effectiveness in providing for students with high support needs in mental health. Mental health and education: students, teachers and parents: 28th Annual International School Psychology Association Conference, Hangzhou, China, 15-19 July, 2006. International School Psychology Association.

Mind matters plus: A national project for secondary schools in Australia to improve their effectiveness in providing for students with high support needs in mental health

2006

Journal Article

Mind matters plus: youth, mental health and wellbeing (Editorial)

Gillies, R. M. (2006). Mind matters plus: youth, mental health and wellbeing (Editorial). Australian Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 16 (1), iii-iv. doi: 10.1375/ajgc.16.1.iii

Mind matters plus: youth, mental health and wellbeing (Editorial)

2006

Journal Article

Peer-mediated strategies to promote student discourse during cooperative learning

Gillies, R. M. (2006). Peer-mediated strategies to promote student discourse during cooperative learning. Perspectives (Spring), 4-8.

Peer-mediated strategies to promote student discourse during cooperative learning

2005

Journal Article

Editorial

Gillies, Robyn (2005). Editorial. Australian Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 15 (2), iii-iv. doi: 10.1375/ajgc.15.2.iii

Editorial

2005

Journal Article

Teachers' scaffolding behaviours during cooperative learning

Gillies, R. M. and Boyle, M. (2005). Teachers' scaffolding behaviours during cooperative learning. Asia-Pacific Journal of Teacher Education, 33 (3), 243-259. doi: 10.1080/13598660500286242

Teachers' scaffolding behaviours during cooperative learning

Past funding

  • 2022 - 2023
    Contract for intellectual services relative to the global network of learning schools
    Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2023
    'We need to talk' : Genomics and disability
    MRFF Genomics Health Futures Mission, Project Grant administered by AusIndustry
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2021
    Community-based STEM professional learning for teachers of middle years
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2018
    QGC/QMN STEM Education Partnership Program: A Professional Learning, Research and Evaluation Plan for 2015 and 2016
    Queensland Museum
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2019
    School-wide approaches for developing social and emotional wellbeing: New understandings of positive identities, emotions and learning in adolescents
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2015
    Queensland Primary Teachers' Professional Development Model for Collaborative Multimodal Inquiry Practices in Science: Responding to the Demands of the Australian Curriculum.
    Queensland Department of Education, Training and Employment
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2015
    Step up! Transforming mathematics and science pre-service secondary teacher education in Queensland
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2019
    The Science of Learning Research Centre
    ARC Special Research Initiative for a Science of Learning Research Centre
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2015
    Investing in our Disadvantaged Youth: New School-Wide Approaches to Understanding and Improving School Engagement and Social Connectedness
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2012
    2011 UQ Trans-Pacific Fellowship - Resilience in Sport: A Cross-National Comparison
    UQ Trans-Pacific Fellowship
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2014
    Supporting schools and teachers to improve students' reading achievement in rural communities
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2013
    Transforming primary teachers' representational practices: Effects on students' scientific reasoning and discourse within contemporary sciences
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2012
    Inquiry Teaching in Mathematics: Accelerating the process of change
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2009
    Comparative effectiveness of two strategic and meta-cognitive questioning approaches on children s explanatory behaviour, problem-solving, and learning during cooperative, inquiry-based learning
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2008
    The effects of teacher and student dialogues during cooperative learning on students' discourse, problem-solving, and learning
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2005 - 2007
    Effects of training teachers in communication skills during cooperative learning on classroom discourse social inclusion and learning among middle-year students.
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2004 - 2005
    School Reform and Literacy In Secondary Schools
    UQ FirstLink Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2004 - 2005
    The effects of cooperative learning and communication training on classroom discourse, social inclusion, and learning among primary school students
    University of Queensland Research Development Grants Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2002
    The effectiveness of peer collaboration compared with teacher-directed instruction for students with learning difficulties in writing
    University of Queensland Research Development Grants Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2001 - 2002
    Effects of teacher/student interactions in cooperative learning on the development of small group communication and prosocial behaviours in children during the middle years of schooling
    UQ Foundation Research Excellence Awards - DVC(R) Funding
    Open grant
  • 1999 - 2001
    Effects of Cooperative Learning on Young Adolescents' Learning and Small Group Interactions
    ARC Australian Research Council (Large grants)
    Open grant

Availability

Professor Robyn Gillies is:
Available for supervision

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Built In or Bolt On? A Policy Analysis of Non-Government Programs in Indigenous Education

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Ian Hardy

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Thinking as collaboration: Exploring students thinking via collaborative endeavours in the primary school classroom

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Peter Ellerton

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Implementing Quality Management in Saudi Education by Designing a Program to Improve Teachers¿ Performance

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Cultural Competence Strategies to Support Chinese International Students Studying in Australia

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Elizabeth Edwards

  • Master Philosophy

    Giving Our Girls A Voice: Using Dialogic Teaching to improve gender equity in classrooms.

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Deborah Brown

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Cultural Competence Strategies to Support Chinese International Students Studying in Australia

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Elizabeth Edwards

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Career Development and Career-Related Choices of China-Educated International Medical Students: Insights for Career Guidance

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Asaduzzaman Khan

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The Student and Teacher Relationship: Exploring Behavioural and Neuroscience Variables that impact upon Student and Teacher Wellbeing

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Chase Sherwell, Professor Ross Cunnington

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Career Development and Career-Related Choices of China-Educated International Medical Students: Insights for Career Guidance

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Asaduzzaman Khan

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Cultural Competence Strategies to Support Chinese International Students Studying in Australia

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Elizabeth Edwards

  • Master Philosophy

    Pedagogies that promote cognitivee and academic success

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Dialogic Pedagogy and the Impact on Gender Equality in Classroom Interactions

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Deborah Brown

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Exploring Language Learning Strategies and Learners¿ Identities Using WhatsApp Chats to Enhance the Learning of Arabic Grammar in Cooperative Learning Settings Online

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Simone Smala

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Critical thinking reflected in the academic writing of Chinese and Australian PhD students

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Garth Stahl

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Professor Robyn Gillies directly for media enquiries about:

  • Behaviour - children in schools
  • Child behaviour in school
  • Discipline - in schools
  • Group learning
  • Guidance counselling - in schools
  • Learning - cooperative group
  • School - child behaviour
  • School - guidance counselling
  • Schools and discipline

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