Overview
Background
My research is in the discipline of higher education and focuses on university teacher beliefs, thinking and practices in relation to the use of educational technologies in teaching & learning. I am also interested in learning designs to support authentic learning approaches using new and emerging technologies such as Web 2.0/3.0 technologies, mobile technologies and 3D immersive environments.
Caroline Steel’s research is in the use of current and emerging educational technologies primarily in university and more recently as applied to the field of Technology-Enhanced Language Learning. She is President and Executive Member of ascilite (Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education). Her research into educational technologies draws on teacher and learner beliefs and affordance theories to investigate learner and teacher preferences and current uses of technology in education. She was lead researcher on a large multi-university research project that investigated the transitional experiences, motivational factors, technology preferences and uses of language students across 3 universities.
Caroline has worked in education-related fields for nearly 20 years as a language teacher, curriculum designer, university teacher educator and now research fellow. Caroline's PhD investigated university teachers' pedagogical beliefs, beliefs about web technologies and how these are enacted in practice. In her research she draws on a number of qualitative research approaches and methods including stimulated recall and concept mapping. Caroline teaches the Masters of Education course ‘Creating classrooms of the future with educational technology' and an undergraduate course in ‘Languages and Technology’.
Availability
- Dr Caroline Steel is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Arts, Griffith University
- Postgraduate Diploma, Griffith University
- Masters (Coursework), The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, Griffith University
Research interests
-
University learner & teacher beliefs & practices: Technologies, learning and teaching
The ways that both learners and teacher approach their use of technologies can be facilitated or constrained by their beliefs about the role and value of technologies in their learning and teaching practices. However other contextual and pedagogical factors also need to be taken into account. These need to be considered in the ways we assist learners and teachers to transform their practices with technology.
-
Mobile learning, Mobile applications for learning, Mobile-assisted language learning
Student perspectives and experiences of using mobile devices and applications to support their universities studies.
-
University students' digital preparedness for using technologies for learning
I am particularly interested in how students use their own technologies for learning and how we can help them to evaluate the potential of their own technologies to help them learn (especially for mobile-enabled learning).
-
Technology-supported authentic learning approaches and designs
Designing for authentic learning experiences enabled by technologies.
-
Leadership that enables technology innovation
Technology innovation can be risky and can also be constrained by leadership practices. What kinds of leadership practices and approaches can enable technology innovation?
Works
Search Professor Caroline Steel’s works on UQ eSpace
2003
Journal Article
Search for the woolly mammoth: A case study in inquiry-based learning
Powell, V. and Steel, C. H. (2003). Search for the woolly mammoth: A case study in inquiry-based learning. The Journal of Veterinary Medical Education, 30 (3), 254-257. doi: 10.3138/jvme.30.3.254
2003
Conference Publication
Investigating Concept Mapping and Stimulated Recall to Reveal Academic Teacher Beliefs and how they are enacted through learning designs for the Web
Steel, C. H. (2003). Investigating Concept Mapping and Stimulated Recall to Reveal Academic Teacher Beliefs and how they are enacted through learning designs for the Web. ED-MEDIA 2003 - World Conference on Educational Multimedia, Hypermedia and Telecommunications, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, 23-28 Jun 2003. Chesapeake, VA, USA: Association for Advancement of Computing in Education.
Funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Caroline Steel is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Supervision history
Completed supervision
-
2018
Doctor Philosophy
'Prescriptions for Success': a mixed methods exploration of engagement, learning and academic performance among successful CALD (culturally and linguistically diverse) and non-CALD pharmacy students at a research-intensive Australian university
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Catherine Manathunga
-
2016
Doctor Philosophy
Persistence: The Experiences of Successful Female Distance Learners in Higher Education in Botswana
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Karen Moni
-
2016
Doctor Philosophy
Developing intercultural competence with Web 2.0 technologies in an EFL context
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Barbara Hanna
-
2013
Doctor Philosophy
Willingness to Communicate by Arab EFL Learners: Conceptualization and Realization
Associate Advisor
Media
Enquiries
Contact Dr Caroline Steel directly for media enquiries about:
- Academic staff development
- Academics and teaching skills
- Affordance theories - education
- Blogs
- CALL - languages, technology
- Case-based learning
- Distance learning
- Education - new learning technologies
- Education - web technology
- eLearning
- Innovation in learning
- Internet learning
- Learning - and technology
- Learning - Internet/electronic
- Learning and web technologies
- New generation learning spaces
- Podcasting
- Teaching and technology
- Teaching methods
- Technology - in learning
- Web technology and learning
- Wikis
Need help?
For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team: