Request Server from SC-10

Professor Donna King

National Head of School
School of Education, Faculty of Education and Arts

Areas of expertise: STEM education, qualitative research

Phone: +61738616392

Email: donna.king@acu.edu.au

Location: ACU Brisbane Campus

ORCID ID: 0000-0001-5592-7290

Professor Donna King began her career as a science, mathematics and religion teacher in secondary Catholic and independent schools moving into tertiary teaching as a science educator. Her PhD was in context-based teaching in Chemistry and a body of research followed spanning four interconnecting fields: context-based science education, the emotional engagement of students in science in the middle years, the use of engineering contexts for teaching STEM and STEM - industry partnerships in schools.

Select publications

  • Henderson, S., & King, D. (2021). "This is the funniest lesson": The production of positive emotions during role-play in the middle years science classroom. In P. White, K. van Cuylenburg, & J. Raphael (Eds.), Science and Drama: Contemporary and creative approaches to teaching and learning (pages 179-196). Springer International Publishing.
  • English, L., Adams, R., & King, D. (2020). Design learning in STEM education. In C. C. Johnson, M. J. Mohr-Schroeder, T. J. Moore & L. D. English (Eds.), Handbook of Research on STEM Education (pp. 76-86). Routledge, Taylor & Francis.
  • King, D., Henderson, S., & Sandhu, M. (2019). Deep breathing as a mindfulness practice in year 10 science. In K. Tobin (Ed.), Mindfulness in education (pp. 91-101). Routledge, Taylor & Francis.
  • Martin, J., & King, D. (2019). Maintaining our critical work: Stories of curriculum making in initial teacher education. In C. Siry & J. Bazzul (Eds.), Critical voices in science education research: Narratives of hope and struggle (Cultural Studies of Science Education, Volume 17) (pp. 115-125). Springer International Publishing.
  • King, D., & Mills, R. (2019). Planning in secondary-school science. In V. Dawson, G. Venville & J. Donovan (Eds.), The art of teaching science: A comprehensive guide to the teaching of secondary school science (3rd edition) (pp. 84-104). Allen and Unwin, Australia.
  • Mills, R., & King, D. (2019) Science. In D. Pendergast & K. Main (Eds.), Teaching primary years: Rethinking curriculum, pedagogy and assessment (pp. 202-218). Allen and Unwin, Australia.
  • Selected Journal Articles
  • Henderson, S., Oakley, J., & King, D. (2020). Using cogenerative dialogue to address heightened emotions with difficult students. Cultural Studies of Science Education, 15(1), 99-110.
  • English, L. & King, D. (2019). STEM integration in sixth grade: Designing and constructing paper bridges. International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, 17(5), 863-884.
  • King, D., & Henderson, S. (2018). Context-based learning in the middle years: Achieving resonance between the real-world field and environmental science concepts. International Journal of Science Education, 18(38), 1-18.
  • King, D., Henderson, S., & Sandhu, M. (2018). Deep breathing as a mindfulness practice in year 10 science. Learning: Research and Practice, 4(1), 91-101.
  • English, L. D., & King, D. (2018). STEM integration in sixth grade: Designing and constructing paper bridges. International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, 17, 863-https://doi.org/10.1007/s10763-018-9912-0
  • King, D. T., Ritchie, S. M., Sandhu, M., Henderson, S., & Boland, B. (2017). Temporality of emotion: Antecedent and successive variants of frustration when learning chemistry. Science Education, 101(4), 639-672.
  • English, L. D., King, D., & Smeed, J. (2017). Advancing integrated STEM learning through engineering design: Sixth-grade students' design and construction of earthquake resistant buildings. The Journal of Educational Research, 110(3), 255-271.
  • English, L. D., & King, D. (2017). Engineering education with fourth-grade students: Introducing design-based problem solving. International Journal of Engineering Education, 33(1), 346-360.
  • King, D. T., & English, L. D. (2017). Engineering design in the primary school: Applying stem concepts to build an optical instrument. International Journal of Science Education, 38(18), 2762-2794.
  • King, D. T., & English, L. D. (2016). Designing an optical instrument: A culminating STEM activity for a primary science light unit. Teaching Science, 4 (62), 15-24.
  • English, L. D., & King, D. T. (2016). Advancing integrated STEM learning through engineering design: Sixth-grade students' design and construction of earthquake resistant buildings. The Journal of Educational Research, 110(3), 255-https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00220671.2016.1264053
  • King, D. T., & English, L. D. (2016). Engineering design in the primary school: Applying STEM concepts to build an optical instrument. International Journal of Science Education, 18, 2762-https://doi.org/10.1080/09500693.2016.1262567
  • Tobin, K., King, D. T., Henderson S., Bellocchi A., & Ritchie, S. M. (2016). Expression of emotions and physiological changes during teaching. Cultural Studies of Science Education, 11(3), 669-692.
  • Bellocchi, A., King, D. T., & Ritchie, S. M. (2016). Context-based assessment: Creating opportunities for resonance between classroom fields and societal fields. International Journal of Science Education, 38(8), 1304-1342.
  • English, L., & King, D. T. (2016). Engineering education with fourth-grade students: Introducing design-based problem solving. International Journal of Engineering Education, 33(1), 346-360.
  • English L. D., & King, D. T. (2016). Designing an earthquake resistant building. Teaching Children Mathematics, 23(1), 47-50.
  • Ritchie, S. M., Hudson, P., Bellocchi, A., Henderson, S., King, D., & Tobin, K. (2016). Evolution of self-reporting methods for identifying discrete emotions in science classrooms. Cultural Studies of Science Education. 11(3), 577-593.
  • King, D., Ritchie, S., Sandhu, M., & Henderson, S. (2015). Emotionally intense science activities. International Journal of Science Education, 37(12), 1886-1914.
  • King, D., & Ginns, I. (2015). Implementing a context-based environmental science unit in the middle years: Teaching and learning at the creek. Teaching Science, 61(3), 26-36.
  • English, L. D., & King, D. T. (2015). STEM learning through engineering design: Fourth-grade students' investigations in aerospace. International Journal of STEM Education, 2(14), 1-18.
  • Hudson, P., English, L., Dawes, L., King, D., & Baker, S. (2015). Exploring links between pedagogical knowledge practices and student outcomes in STEM education for primary schools. The Australian Journal of Teacher Education, 40(6), 134-151.
  • Bellocchi, A., Ritchie, S., Tobin, K., King, D. T., Sandhu, M., & Henderson, S. (2014). Emotional climate and high quality learning experiences in science teacher education. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 51(10), 1301-1325.
  • English, L. D., King, D., Hudson, P. B., & Dawes, L. (2014). The aerospace engineering challenge. Teaching Children Mathematics, 21(2), 122-126.
  • King, D. T., & Ritchie, S. M. (2013). Academic success in context-based chemistry: Demonstrating fluid transitions between concepts and context. International Journal in Science Education, 35(7), 1159-1182.
  • Larkin, D., King, D. T., & Kidman, G. (2012). Connecting indigenous stories with geology: Inquiry-based learning in a middle years classroom. Teaching Science, 58(2), 39-44.
  • King, D. (2012). New perspectives on context-based chemistry education: Using a dialectical sociocultural approach to view teaching and learning. Studies in Science Education Journal, 48(1), 51-87.
  • King, D. T., Bellocchi, A., & Ritchie, S. M. (2008). Making connections: Learning and teaching chemistry in context. Research in Science Education,38(3), 365-*7th most downloaded paper for RISE for 2009 impact factor 0.5 for Over the last five years RISE has an impact factor of 1.

Projects

Selected studies with ARC funding

  • 2018-2020, Australian Research Council, Discovery Scheme: English, L., King, D.T., Moore, T. M.& Mousoulides, N. Modelling with design: learning innovation across primary science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) $347,968
  • 2012-2015, Australian Research Council, Linkage Scheme: English, L,, Dawes, L., Hudson, P., & King, D. Developmental Engineering Education in the Primary School $370 000
  • 2012-2015, Australian Research Council, Linkage Scheme: Ritchie, S., Tomas, L., Bellocchi, A., King, D., & Tobin, K. Emotional learning in socioscientific issues for enhancement of scientific literacy $200 000
  • 2012-2015 Australian Research Council, Discovery Scheme: Ritchie, S., Tobin, K., Bellocchi, A., & King, D.T. Eventful learning in quality pre-service science teacher education $185 000
  • Selected industry funded studies
  • 2016, DET funded grant: Lyons, T., King, D., Lawes, L., Hudson, P., & Doyle, T. Building teacher capability using STEM partnership models $100 000

Accolades

  • Queensland University of Technology, (Nominated) Teacher of the Year Award, 2016
  • EUN122 Learning and Teaching Team Award, 2018
  • (Runner-up) Research Supervision Aware - Outstanding domestic HDR supervision, Publication Achievement award, Teaching Team Award for evidence-based practice, 2017
  • Publication Achievement Award, Vice Chancellor's team performance award, 2016
  • Outstanding contribution to the School of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 2009
  • Vice Chancellor's Award for performance, 2008
  • Excellent Teaching by a QUT Early Career Academic, 2006

Appointments

  • Associate Dean of Learning and Teaching at QUT 2019-2020
  • Professional affiliations
  • Australasian Science Education Association (ASERA)
  • Queensland Science Teachers' Association
  • European Science Education Research Association

Editorial roles

  • Lead Co-Chief Editor for Research in Science Education 2019 (Q1 Journal)
  • Co-Chief Editor for Research in Science Education 2017-18 (Q1 Journal)
  • Assistant Editor and reviewer for Research in Science Education Journal 2010-12
  • Editor for Teaching Science 2009-17
Back to previous page

Have a
question?

Ask
Research

Our contacts

Have a question for a specific
team? Ask the right person.

View all contacts