Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Anne Forbes (BSc, BEd, MScAgr, PhD) has a wide range of science-related experiences including being a Plant Pathology researcher, primary school science teacher, and currently, a university researcher and educator in primary school science and STEM education in the Macquarie School of Education She teaches in a range of units in pre-service teacher education and conducts accredited in-service teacher professional learning to enthuse, inform and inspire learning and teaching through primary science and STEM education.
Anne describes her role as 'finding effective ways to open doors to the world of science and STEM for young learners and their teachers'. A recent highlight was being part of the winning author team for the text STEM Education in the Primary School: A Teacher’s Toolkit that won the 2021 EPAA Award for 'Outstanding Tertiary/VET Resource'. She has just completed a companion publication titled Science Education in the Primary School: A Teacher's Toolkit (2023), also published by Cambridge University Press. Anne has led and contributed to the development of a Coursera course for teachers to learn about Artificial Intelligence and has been invited to comment on international issues such as how to get more girls and young women into STEM.
Anne has been invited to share her research internationally as a keynote speaker, and to share her ideas about STEM education with parents, teachers and principals as an invited speaker.
PROJECTS
MyScience@MQ: In 2006 Anne co-developed the underpinning Educational Model for MyScience www.myscience.com.au, an award-winning program that aims to stimulate interest and enhance the capacity of primary science teachers and their students in conducting authentic scientific investigations. Preliminary research http://www.myscience.com.au/research/ into the program indicated benefits across the educational spectrum: for primary students and their teachers, secondary students and their science teachers and pre-service primary and secondary science teachers, where learning occurs because of participation in a community of science practice.
STEM Education textbook: Anne is the lead author for a 'state-of-the-art' text for Australian primary teachers titled STEM Education in the Primary School: A teacher's tookit. The book was published in January 2021 and recently won the 'Outstanding Tertiary Resource' for the 2021 Educational Publishing Australa Awards.
Science Education textbook: Anne is the sole author for the Australian text title Primary Science Education: A teacher's tookit. The book was published in June 2023.
IBM Global Artifical Intelligence Currciulum Framework
In 2018, Macquarie University’s then Department of Educational Studies (DES) collaborated with key international stakeholders to develop IBM Corporation's Global Artificial Intelligence (AI) Curriculum Framework for students and teachers in primary and secondary schools. Designed to develop future-oriented knowledge, skills and values, the framework enables participation and contribution as engaged and responsible citizens in the 21st century economy and society.
In 2019, with Anne as the 'Academic Lead', a suite of online and face-to-face professional learning courses for Australian teachers were developed, implemented and evaluated.
In 2020, based on the resources developed in 2019, the online Coursera course Artificial Intelligence (AI) Education for Teachers was launched.
In 2021, the IBM EdTech Youth Challenge provides support to teachers who wish to guide student teams to propose AI solutions to local issues caused by Climate Change.
TEACHING and SCHOLARSHIP
Anne teaches in the Early Childhood and Primary education programs, and contributes to units relating to Science and Design Technology education. She currently convenes and/or participates in: EDTE2520, EDTE4550, EDST2110, EDST3110, EDST4110, EDST4160.
Anne uses a learner-centred approach in her teaching to design and deliver resources and ideas, which means identifying key elements of ‘what needs to be known or understood’ and presenting them in ways that allow learners to ‘join the dots’. She believes in, and practices the art of teaching, as being about creating inviting spaces into which learners will step and engage with presented ideas.
TEACHING AWARDS
2003 BHP Billiton: National BHP Billiton Award for Primary Science Teaching
2000 Streamwatch, NSW: Outstanding Streamwatch Educator award for K-12 teaching
PROFESSIONAL / RESEARCH-RELATED / COMMUNITY ROLES
Anne was an Associate Editor for a Speical Issue on STEM Education in the journal Early Education and Development, published in 2021.
She is a reviewer for the International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education journal.
Anne regularly presents professional development workshops about science and design technology education.
Anne was awarded the following in recognition of her contributions to a variety of Professional Teaching Associations:
2015 Professional Teachers’ Council of NSW: Exceptional Service Award
2010 Science Teachers' Association of NSW: Distinguished Service Award
2006 Professional Teachers’ Council of NSW: Outstanding Professional Service Award
Education/Academic qualification
Primary Science Education, PhD, MyScience: Communities of Practice around the Teaching and Learning of Primary Science, Southern Cross University
Award Date: 12 Sept 2014
Primary Education, BEd, University of Technology Sydney
Award Date: 16 Apr 1998
Plant Pathology, MScAgr, Studies on Fusarium Species in the Sections Arthrosporiella, Discolor, Gibbosum and Roseum, University of Sydney
Award Date: 8 Oct 1985
Biological Sciences, BSc, University of Birmingham
Award Date: 7 Jul 1978
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Projects
- 5 Finished
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IBM AI - Australian Skillsbuild Grant - Academy of Continuing Professional Development in Education
Forbes, A., Hay, I. & Bamford Barnes, L.
26/07/19 → 31/12/20
Project: Other
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MyScience@MQ - advancing great teaching and inspired learning in science (Ref: 180113)
Forbes, A. & Hay, I.
1/02/18 → 31/07/19
Project: Teaching
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Pedagogical optimisation of maker activities using 3D technology
Forbes, A., Bower, M., Hatzigianni, M., Falloon, G. & Stevenson, M.
1/06/17 → 30/06/18
Project: Research
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Primary science education: a teacher’s toolkit
Forbes, A., 2023, (Accepted/In press) Melbourne: Cambridge University Press (CUP). 332 p.Research output: Book/Report › Textbook
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The effects of load reduction instruction on educational outcomes: an intervention study on hands-on inquiry-based learning in science.
Kadir, M. S., Yeung, A. S., Santos Caleon, I., Diallo, T., Forbes, A. & Xun Koh, W., 1 Jul 2023, In: Applied Cognitive Psychology. 37, 4, p. 814-829 16 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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What and why do teachers need to know about artificial intelligence?
Forbes, A., 16 Aug 2023, In: Scan. 42, 3, p. 4-16 13 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
Open AccessFile37 Downloads (Pure) -
Getting more girls and young women into STEM: how to maintain participation through school and higher education
Forbes, A., 2022, Insights.Research output: Contribution to Newspaper/Magazine/Website › Article
Open Access -
How can I incorporate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures into my science teaching program?
Forbes, A., 2022, In: Science Education News. 71, 2, p. 6-39 34 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
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What and why do teachers need to know about Artificial Intelligence?
Anne Forbes (Speaker)
25 May 2023Activity: Talk or presentation › Presentation
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UNESCO International Forum on AI and Education
Anne Forbes (Speaker)
6 Dec 2022Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
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From here to there: The research translational work of the Macquarie School of Education – Academy of Continuing Professional Development in Education (ACPDE)
Kim Wilson (Speaker), Iain Hay (Speaker), Fay Hadley (Speaker) & Anne Forbes (Speaker)
1 Dec 2020Activity: Talk or presentation › Presentation
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Plenary speaker at the 20th Annual Science and Mathematics Educators Conference (SMEC), American University in Beirut (AUB), Lebanon.
Anne Forbes (Speaker)
17 Mar 2018Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
Press/Media
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Media Centre for Educational Research (MCERA) <https://www.mcera.org.au/>, Press Release, 6 November 2017
6/11/17
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Research
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Mentors help kids and teachers love science
31/01/17
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Public Engagement Activities