Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
I am a Lecturer, Secondary Social Science, who specialises in geography education. I convene and teach the undergraduate and postgraduate methodology courses for Geography, and Economics-Business; I am also Deputy Director, Master of Teaching (primary and secondary). My research interests focus on transition into the profession, transformation of pedagogical practice in the geography classroom, and out-of-field teaching.
My recently completed doctoral research was a qualitative, longitudinal study focused on transition into the teaching profession and transformation of pedagogical practice in the secondary Geography classroom. The research was conducted with five teacher education students in three phases as they completed their final year of study in an initial teacher education program, entered the profession, and transitioned to their early-career years. Archer's theory of reflexivity was used determine the enabling and constraining influences on practice. Reflection and pedaogy was the conceptual frame, using the Teaching and Assessing for Reflective Learning (TARL) model (Ryan & Ryan, 2013, 2015) and the Professional Standards for the Accomplished Teaching of Geography (GEOGStandards) (Hutchinson & Kriewaldt, 2010). During my doctoral candidature I received the Faculty of Human Sciences Award for Excellence in Higher Degree Research.
Outside of Macquarie University, I continue to advocate for quality geography education within initial teacher education programs and in school-based settings through active engagement with the professional associations for geography: President, Geography Teachers Associaton of NSW and ACT (GTANSW&ACT); Chair, Australian Geography Teachers Association (AGTA); Co-opted member, Geographical Society of NSW; and AGTA Representative for the Institute of Australian Geographers (IAG).
In 2019 I was appointed by the Academy of Singapore Teachers and Ministry of Education, Singapore, as the Outstanding Educator In Residence for geographical education. The appointment focused on pedagogical practice in Geography, particularly around the incorporation of inquiry-based learning and fieldwork activities in to teaching, learning and assessment programs. Responsibilities associated with this in-country appointment included collaborating closely with the Academy of Singapore Teachers to develop and deliver a series of Masterclasses for in-service teachers of Geography; designing and teaching demonstration lessons in local schools with local students; and participating in a national curriculum dialogue with policy-makers.
Education/Academic qualification
Education, Doctor of Philosophy, Macquarie University
30 Jul 2018 → 3 Aug 2021
Award Date: 20 Dec 2021
Education, Master of Research (Year 2), Macquarie University
Jul 2017 → 25 Apr 2018
Award Date: 30 Jun 2018
Leadership and Intercultural Understanding, Asialink Leadership Course, The University of Melbourne
Jan 2016 → Dec 2016
Award Date: 16 Dec 2016
Education, Master of Education (Research Specialisation), Macquarie University
2012 → 2016
Award Date: 16 Dec 2016
Education, Bachelor of Education, University of Sydney
1992 → 1995
Award Date: 15 Dec 1995
External positions
Chair, Australian Geography Teachers' Association
Oct 2021 → …
STEM Ambassador for geography education, Science and Technology Australia
Mar 2020 → Dec 2021
President (2nd time), Geography Teachers' Association of NSW
Nov 2019 → …
Honorary Secretary, Geographical Society of NSW
Mar 2017 → Oct 2020
Sessional Academic (Geography, Canberra Campus), Australian Catholic University
Jan 2017 → Jun 2017
Sessional Academic (HSIE in the primary years), University of Sydney
Jan 2017 → Jun 2017
Vice President, Geography Teachers' Association of NSW
Oct 2016 → Nov 2019
Board member, Professional Teachers Council of NSW
2015 → 2016
Director/Nominated Director, Australian Geography Teachers' Association
Oct 2013 → Oct 2021
President, Geography Teachers' Association of NSW
Oct 2013 → Oct 2016
Senior Project Officer: Australian Curriculum Geography, Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA)
Oct 2010 → Oct 2013
Head Teacher HSIE, Department of Education, Skills and Employment
2005 → 2010
Teaching and Learning Coordinator, Department of Education, Skills and Employment
2003 → 2005
Geography Teacher, Department of Education, Skills and Employment
1996 → 2002
Fingerprint
- 1 Similar Profiles
Network
Projects
- 1 Active
-
Accelerate MTeach Program: Supporting STEM mid-career transition into the teaching profession
Dutton, J., Ryan, M., Hay, I., Hadley, F., De Nobile, J., Caldis, S., Wilson, K., Cavanagh, M. & Chu, H. E.
1/12/21 → 30/06/25
Project: Research
-
National Summit on Teaching Out-of-field: synthesis and recommendations for policy, practice and research
Hobbs, L., Du Plessis, A., Oates, G., Caldis, S., McKnight, L., Vale, C., O'Connor, M., Rochette, E., Watt, H., Weldon, P., Richardson, P. A. & Bateup, C., 30 Jun 2022, Victoria, Australia: Deakin University. 52 p.Research output: Book/Report › Other report
Open Access -
Teaching secondary geography
McInerney, M., Butler, J., Caldis, S., Cranby, S., Jones, S., Law, M., Maude, A. & Nicholas, R., 2022, Port Melbourne, VIC: Cambridge University Press. 300 p.Research output: Book/Report › Textbook
-
The importance of planning in geography
McInerney, M., Jones, S. & Caldis, S., 2022, Teaching secondary geography. McInerney, M., Butler, J., Caldis, S., Cranby, S., Law, M., Maude, A. & Nicholas, R. (eds.). Port Melbourne, VIC: Cambridge University Press (CUP), p. 267-284 18 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
-
The inquiry process in geography
Butler, J. & Caldis, S., 2022, Teaching secondary geography. McInerney, M., Butler, J., Caldis, S., Cranby, S., Law, M., Maude, A. & Nicholas, R. (eds.). Port Melbourne, VIC: Cambridge University Press (CUP), p. 187-200 14 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
-
The professionally engaged geography teacher
Caldis, S. & Maude, A., 2022, Teaching secondary geography. McInerney, M., Butler, J., Caldis, S., Cranby, S., Law, M., Maude, A. & Nicholas, R. (eds.). Port Melbourne, VIC: Cambridge University Press (CUP), p. 285-300 16 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
Prizes
-
2019 Outstanding Educator in Residence for geographical education
Caldis, Susan (Recipient), 28 Feb 2019
Prize: Teaching award
-
-
-
-
Activities
-
Teacher Inquiry @MQ: a professional learning program of inquiry into practice
Kim Wilson (Speaker), Janet Dutton (Speaker) & Susan Caldis (Speaker)
17 Feb 2022Activity: Talk or presentation › Presentation
-
Geography Education - Time to enrich the landscape within and beyond the school gates
Susan Caldis (Speaker)
7 Jul 2022Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
-
Out-of-field teaching during a time of transition: Implications for subject and practice
Susan Caldis (Speaker)
7 Jul 2022Activity: Talk or presentation › Presentation
-
Looking for the Anthropocene in geography school education
Jessica McLean (Speaker) & Susan Caldis (Speaker)
2022Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
-
What are the realities of out-of-field teaching for teachers and schools
Susan Caldis (Speaker)
21 Oct 2021Activity: Talk or presentation › Presentation