Dr Santhamma James
Senior Lecturer
Science/School of Behavioural and Health Sciences
Areas of expertise: teaching anatomy; physiology; pathophysiology; cell biology and genetics; nutritional epidemiology and chronic diseases of lifestyle; learning styles; biological concepts
Phone: 03 9953 3219
Email: Santhamma.james@acu.edu.au
Location: ACU Melbourne Campus
ORCID ID: 0000-0002-6571-9417
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PUBLICATIONS
- ONLINE SCIENCE MODULES FOR TRANSITION TO UNIVERSITY IN HEALTH SCIENCES ICERI2016 Proceedings, 2016-11 | conference-paper
DOI: 10.21125/iceri.2016.1894
Part of ISBN: 9788461758951
- How learning styles and preferences of first-year nursing and midwifery students change Australian Journal of Education, 2015-06-02 | journal-article
DOI: 10.1177/0004944115587917
Part of ISSN: 0004-9441
- Obesity and asthma at school entry: Co-morbidities and temporal trends Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 2013-03 | journal-article
DOI: 10.1111/jpc.12160
Part of ISSN: 1034-4810
- Learning styles of first-year undergraduate nursing and midwifery students: A cross-sectional survey utilising the Kolb Learning Style Inventory Nurse Education Today, 2012-07 | journal-article
DOI: 10.1016/j.nedt.2011.08.001
Part of ISSN: 0260-6917
- Learning preferences of first year nursing and midwifery students: Utilising VARK Nurse Education Today, 2011-05 | journal-article
DOI: 10.1016/j.nedt.2010.08.008
Part of ISSN: 0260-6917
- Mind and Body: an innovative curriculum approach in health science. In touch newsletter of the Public Health Association of Australia Inc., Vol 23(10), November 2006.
- Nutritional Status Influences Plasma Fibrinogen Concentration Thrombosis Research, 2000-06 | journal-article
DOI: 10.1016/s0049-3848(00)00197-3
Part of ISSN: 0049-3848
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES
- McKenzie, N., James, S., Fernandez, F., Kelly, N., Stevens, J., Rusznak, Z., Mahoney, P., Williams, J., Lay, E., Lord, R., Larkin, M., Mehta, H., Relf, W., Martinac, B., Morris, G., Rouf A. N Gauging Students' Pre-concepts in Biology: SoTL study. Poster presented at: STLHE 2019 SAPES Winnipeg, Manitoba. July 2019.
- James, S. (2012). Student learning preferences and academic achievement in biology for health science students: a pilot study. Australia & New Zealand Association for Health Professional Educators 2012 (ANZAHPE 2012) Conference. Rotorua, New Zealand, June 26 - 29, 2012.
- D'Amore, A., James, S. & Thomas, T. (2009). Informing Educators about Student Learning and Preferences: A Study of First Year Nursing Students by Poster presentation. SCUTREA (Standing Conference on University Teaching and Research in the Education of Adults). The 39th SCUTREA Annual Conference. University of Cambridge, 7-9 July, 2009.
- James, S. & D'Amore, A. (2009). Exploring Learning Styles among First Year Nursing students. ANZAME09 (The Association of Health Professional Education). Launceston, Tasmania, 30 June - 3 July, 2009.
- Vorster, H.H., James, S, MacIntyre, U, Jerling, JC, Veldman, FJ, Nell, TA, Venter, CS, Kruger, HS, Kruger, A, Lessing, C. The relationship between plasma fibrinogen and nutritional status: the THUSA study. XVth International Fibrinogen Workshop, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.A. 13 - 15 August 1998.
- James, S., Vorster, H., Jerling, J., Veldman, F., Burger, H., Nell, T., Lessing, C. & Kruger, H. The impact of urbanization and the nutrition transition on plasma fibrinogen of Africans: the THUSA study (Poster). 16th International Congress of Nutrition, Montreal, Canada: 27 July - 1 August 1997.
NATIONAL CONFERENCES
- James, S., Rusznak, Z., Kelly, N., Stevens, J., McKenzie, N, Fernandez, F., Mahoney, P., Williams, J., Lay, E., Lord, R., Larkin, M., Mehta, H., Relf, W., Martinac, B., Morris, G., Rouf A. N. (2021). Abstract accepted for HERDSA 2021, but conference cancelled due to lockdown in Brisbane.
- James, S., Zoltan, R., Lord, R. & McKenzie, N. (2018). Gauging Student Preconcepts in Biology, July 27. Poster presentation at the 4th LTC conference, ACU, Sydney.
- Lys, I., James, S., Ballard, F., Hurley, L. & Crisp, C. (2018). Student led participation in development of all teaching resources and assessments from second year onwards: Fool's idea or much more? July 27. Round Table presentation at the 4th LTC conference, ACU, Sydney
- Lys, I., Martinac, B., James, S. et al. (2018). Get wise with PeerWise for students and academics, July 27. Nuts and Bolts presentation at the 4th LTC conference, ACU, Sydney
- James, S. (2014). Factors affecting achievement in biology: A pilot study. Poster presented in the GCHE showcase entitled "The impact of the Graduate Certificate in Higher Education on teaching practice at ACU", The 3rd ACU Learning and Teaching Conference, Sydney, 11 July, 2014.
- D'Amore, A., James, S. & Mitchell, E. (2010). Learning Styles and Preferences: A Study of First Year Undergraduate Nursing and Midwifery Students. Health Professional and Health Sciences Educational Research Symposium 2010. 'From Educational Research to Educational Practice'. 30 September, 2010.
- Vorster, H. H., James, S., Nair, C. H., Kruger, H. S., Nell, T. A. The relationship between nutritional status and plasma fibrinogen. 36th SEMDSA/6th LASSA/4th DESSA workshop, Durban: 2-7 April 2000.
- James, S., Vorster, H., Jerling, J., Veldman, F.J. & Nell, T. Association of plasma fibrinogen with serum albumin: A new health indicator from the THUSA study? Fifth biennial congress of the Association for Dietetics in South Africa and 17th biennial congress of the Nutrition Society of Southern Africa. Sun City. 25-29 May 1998
Projects
- ACU Teaching Development Grant 2018 - Gauging Student Pre-concepts in Biology (ACU $12,000.00): Santha James & BIOL121, BIOL123 and BIOL125 LICs [ACU 2018-2019)]
- ACU Teaching Development Grant 2014 - Fundamentals of Biology Module: Genevieve Morris & Santha James (2014-2016) [ACU, $11,540.00]
- Digital Chemistry Lessons - Pre-recorded Video Lectures LTC: Santha James & Genevieve Morris (2013-2014) [LTC / ACU, $9,000.00]
- FAS Early Career Research Incentive Award (ECRIA) "Do learning styles and preferences matter?" Santha James and Angelo D'Amore (2008-2015) [ FAS/ACU, $5,000.00]
- THUSA Project (Nutritional Epidemiology Project, South Africa) Proportionally spent (for the team of 20 researchers under Prof Este Vorster) from:
[ # National Research Foundation (NRF) previously known as (FRD) National Research Funds R25 000.00
# Medical Research Council (MRC) R150 000.00
# South African Sugar Association (SASA) R20 000.00
# DrybeansProdusente Organization (DPO) R15 000.00
# PU for CHE (Now North-West Uni) R800 000.00 (Biochemical analyses) - (all data used in PhD thesis) to a Total of R1 010 000.00]
- Diabetic Research Networking Travel Grant to India (Prof Este Vorster & Santha James) [R15 000.00]
Accolades and Awards
- SFHEA (Senior Fellow of Higher Education Academy): Advance HE (United Kingdom) - 01/03/2021
- ACU Teaching Development Grant 2018 "Gauging Student Preconcepts in Biology": Awards and Grants Committee, Learning and Teaching Centre, ACU - 23/08/2018
- ACU Nominee for AAUT citation (unsuccessful): Australian Awards for University Teaching, Department of Education and Training - May 2017
- Best poster prize (with Genevieve M and Belinda M): Faculty of Health Sciences Learning and Teaching Showcase - December 2015
- ACU Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning: for engaging students from diverse backgrounds in the science curriculum and inspiring them for critical thinking and lifelong learning through passionate and scholarly teaching - 2014
- Faculty of Arts & Sciences (FAS) Excellence in Teaching Award in recognition of high quality contributions to student learning in the Biosciences and transformation of teaching through scholarly activities - 2013
- Nomination for Vice Chancellor's Award for best student in B.Ed. (Honours), University of Bophuthatswana-1986
- National Merit Scholarship for Children of Primary School Teachers, India - 1971 to 1977
- Gold medal for top student in Religious Education, St Mary's College, Trichur - 1972
- Merit Scholarship for best student in Sanskrit, Pattambi District, Kerala, India - 1969-1970.
Appointments and Affiliations
Appointments
- January 2015 - To date → Senior Lecturer, ACU
- January 2015 - 2019 → Melbourne/National Course Coordinator Biomedical Sciences. ACU
- January 2007-2014 → Lecturer, ACU Melbourne
- Jan 2005-2006 → Senior Lecturer (0.8) → Senior Lecturer (full time); School of Primary Health Care, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Peninsula Campus, Monash University, Frankston
- Jan 2004 - Dec 2004 Lecturer (0.6) → Applied Sciences, Peninsula Campus, Monash University, Frankston
- March 2003 - Dec. 2003 Lecturer (Sessional) → Applied Sciences, Gippsland Campus, Monash University, Churchill.
- Oct. 2003 - Dec. 2003 Teacher (0.63) → Padua College, Oakbank Road, Mornington, Victoria, Australia.
- Feb. 2003 - Oct. 2003 Year 10 Biology Teacher (0.2) → St. Catherine's School, Toorak, Victoria, Australia.
- Jan. 2002-Jan. 2003 Full Time Replacement Teacher → (Information Technology and Religious Education) Sacred Heart Girls' High School, Oakleigh, Victoria, Australia.
- 1986 - 1999 Lecturer → Department of Biological Sciences, University of Northwest, Mmabatho - South Africa.
Professional affiliations
- Member: American Association for Advancement of Science (AAAS)
- Life Member of the Anatomical Society of Southern Africa.
- Affiliation with other health science education journals [Andrology Australia, Biomed Central, Nature…]
International journal review panels
Journal reviewer:
- Nurse Education in Practice
- Global Journal of Health Science
- Nurse Education Today
- Anatomical Sciences Education
- Contemporary Nurse
- International Medical Education Journal.
Public engagement activities
- Parish Council Member and Editor of first Parish Magazine of the Syro-Malabar Church in Melbourne.
