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, The transformation of pedagogical practice in the secondary Geography classroom as pre-service teachers transition in to the profession, Macquarie University
30 Jul 2018 → 3 Aug 2021
Award Date: 20 Dec 2021
Education, Master of Research (Year 2), Pre-service teachers' understanding of reflection and reflective practice, 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), The role of stakeholders in a curriculum development process, Macquarie University
2012 → 2016
Award Date: 16 Dec 2016
Education, Bachelor of Education, Secondary; Humanities; Geography major, 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 → 31 Oct 2022
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 (Commonwealth)
2005 → 2010
Teaching and Learning Coordinator, Department of Education (Commonwealth)
2003 → 2005
Geography Teacher, Department of Education (Commonwealth)
1996 → 2002
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Projects
- 1 Active
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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
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Geography education - what does it stand for? Geography education – A short overview of what it stands for
Van der Schee, J., Scholten, N. & Caldis, S., 8 May 2023, IGU-CGE 26 p.Research output: Contribution to Newspaper/Magazine/Website › Website contribution
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Collaborating across disciplinary lines: generating a framework for out-of-field teachers in the Sciences, English, Mathematics, Design Technologies and the Humanities
Hobbs, L., McKnight, L., Carpendale, J., Caldis, S., Campbell, C., Delaney, S., Speldwinde, C., Kelly, L. & Vale, C., 2022, Methodological approaches to STEM education research. White, P. J., Tytler, R., Ferguson, J. P. & Cripps Clark, J. (eds.). Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, Vol. 3. p. 174-199 27 p. (Contemporary approaches to research in STEM education).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
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Intervention studies to improve initial teacher education in geography: a scoping review
Scholten, N., Caldis, S. & Sprenger, S., 2022, International Perspectives on Geographical Education. Artvinli, E., Gryl, I., Lee, J. & Mitchell, J. T. (eds.). Cham, Switzerland: Springer, Springer Nature, p. 9-24 16 p. (International Perspectives on Geographical Education).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review
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Know the subject and how to teach it: using the GEOGStandards to develop pedagogical practice amongst pre-service teachers during professional experience
Caldis, S., Cavanagh, M. & Ryan, M., 2022, In: Geographical education. 35, 1, p. 33-45 13 p., 4.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
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
Prizes
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2019 Outstanding Educator in Residence for geographical education
Caldis, Susan (Recipient), 28 Feb 2019
Prize: Teaching award
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Activities
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Using systems theory to explore out of field teaching
Janet Dutton (Speaker), Linda Hobbs (Speaker), Merrilyn Goos (Speaker), Greg Oates (Speaker), Seamus Delaney (Speaker), Susan Caldis (Speaker), Constance Cirkony (Speaker) & Emily Ross (Speaker)
21 Aug 2023Activity: Talk or presentation › Presentation
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Graduate Speaker Address for Faculty of Arts School of Education graduation ceremony
Susan Caldis (Speaker)
11 Oct 2022Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
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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
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Looking for the Anthropocene in geography school education
Jessica McLean (Speaker) & Susan Caldis (Speaker)
2022Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
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ECR Showcase Finalist: Teaching geography beyond specialisation in the pre-service and early-career years
Susan Caldis (Speaker)
17 Nov 2022Activity: Talk or presentation › Presentation