Department

Talk about how the theories of teaching used in the Prac Department come from this group…

Educational psychology focuses on how people learn and retain knowledge. This is done to improve the learning process and promote educational success for all students. Beyond this, they also study social, emotional and cognitive processes involved in learning and apply their findings to improve the learning process. Bob Peter’s thoughts on this…

According to the 1970 Annual Report Bob Peter’s changes of reducing the passive learning had been reduced by 30% and there was much emphasis on laboratory exercises such as role analysis, role simulation, verbal learning, achievement motivation, and depth perception. The topics were directly related to the classroom situation.

As a result, considerable usage of one-way screens was useful for role performance, child observation and replication of experiments.

In later years, students were to complete brief child studies consisting of structured observations and responses by the student. These were designed to be completed in 20 minutes.

This department was also responsible for setting up a remedial reading clinic for students, who wished to speed read.

Programs

  • The classroom as a social system
  • Social roles of teacher and pupil
  • The school and the community
  • Culture and Education
  • Curriculum
  • Education and Social Change
  • Social deviancy
  • Community studies
  • Role Performance and Classroom Technique
  • Perception
  • Developmental features
  • Motivation

Research and Publications

Staff

Phil Smith (HOD)

Phil Smith, the inaugural Head of Education and Psychology, had been involved in running remedial reading programs at UWA and his expertise and encouragement led the way for specific course units and experiential programs for teacher education students interested in developing their skills in helping children with developmental learning problems.

He set up the clinic to provide students with experience of techniques in remediation; and to allow staff members the opportunity of maintaining a practical concern with the teaching of primary school pupils

Mike Lee

Mike Lee’s research and further study was in the education of exceptional children and was also involved in establishing the Dyslexia Association of Western Australia in 1969.

Mike had a powerful and influential role in developing course content leading to specialised undergraduate courses and eventually the establishment of the Graduate Diploma in Special Education in the mid-1970s.

Sybe Jongeling

Sybe Jongeling came to Australia from Groningen, Netherlands.

He completed matriculation at Kent Street SHS in 1955 and studied at UWA. Sybe graduated from Claremont Teachers’ College in 1957. His first
appointment was to Cunderdin District High School in 1958. From 1959 to 1960 he taught science and mathematics at Busselton High School, where he met is
life-long partner, Dawn Bedford who was Home Economics teacher at the school.

While in Busselton, Sybe continued his UWA studies by external tuition and on returning to Perth in 1961 as a part-time student. After completing his BA in
1963, he continued part-time studies at UWA and completed a Dip Ed, followed by a BEd and MEd. As the predominant focus in the Education Department was
on Open Plan classrooms, Sybe’s interest was in Cooperative Small Group Learning and he completed a PhD at Murdoch University in this area.

From 1961 to 1964 Sybe taught Physics and Mathematics at Governor Stirling Senior High School, he became Senior Master Science at Kalamunda in 1965 and Senior Master Mathematics at BunburySenior High School in 1996. As the inaugural Senior Master Mathematics at Churchlands Senior High School (1967-1970) Sybe enthused a small group of students to build and statistically test a small computer for which the group was awarded the inaugural Mathematics Talent Quest Shield.

In 1971 Sybe was promoted to lecturer in Psychology and Education at Mount Lawley Teachers’s College (later WACAE and now ECU), he became Senior Lecturer, then Associate Professor and completed his career as Director of Research and Graduate Studies at Edith Cowan University. His research interests were in Higher Education, Small group Learning, Measurement and Evaluation and Research Methodology. On retirement Sybe continued teaching groups of Indonesian Bachelor of Business students in research methodology, statistics and computing at the Joondalup Campus and in Indonesia.

Laurie Summers

Rod Underwood

Rod Underwood lectured at MLTC from 1972-1975. He also had leadership roles in WACAE.

His memberships included being Chairman of the Western Australian Palliative Care Research Group, Perth, 1995, being a development consultative committee Western Australian Police Force, Perth, 1992-1995 and member of the Edith Cowan University Foundation, 1991-1995.

He has also held membership in the Australian Council of Deans of Health Science, Australian Psychological Society, Australasian Association for Criminal Justice Administration Educators, Australian consortium for Social and Political Research, Delta Kappa Pi.

Ian Kerr

Irene Froyland

Irene Froyland was the Director of the Centre for Police Research in the Faculty of Health and Human Sciences. She has a Masters degree in Psychology and a PhD in Criminology.

Her research career commenced in 1991 following her return from Canada where she completed her doctoral studies.

Initially, she was appointed as Head of the Department of Justice Studies but was then invited to direct the Centre for Police Research after an agreement was signed with the WA Police Force and the University.

Irene’s research interests lie in police-related issues and in the application of the justice system. She commenced her research career employing quantitative, experimental methodologies but has since moved into phenomenological, interpretive and evaluative techniques.

Irene’s research is about discipline, priorities and time.

Janina (Corina) Trotman

Janina Trotman lectured in the School of Education. Edith Cowan University, Perth. Her commitment to the education of girls and women has involved her in a quarter of a century of researching, publishing and teaching about gender in education.

Janina Trotman – Interview with Marjorie Bly and Rivka Niesten

Brenda Buchanan

Brenda began her B.A. studies as a part time student while working in commercial offices
then continued while a student of Claremont Teacher’s College, also when teaching in the High Schools of the State Education Department.

After completion of the B.A. she was appointed to the Guidance Branch of the Education Department and continued within the high schools until she was appointed to lecture in Education and Psychology at Mt. Lawley Teacher’s College, in 1972. Brenda was the principal coordinator for the Clinic in Remediation.

She remained at MLTC through its various name changes, while continuing to study for a Diploma of Education, a B.Ed. and further studies in Psychology to become
a Registered Psychologist.

In 1983, Brenda was appointed as a Student Counsellor and worked in that field until retirement at the end of 1991. After retirement she engaged in voluntary activities within migrant groups and other areas within society and was interested in interfaith activities, the Arts
and Politics.

Obituary – 31 January 2018
BUCHANAN (Brenda): Brenda Buchanan was a teacher and academic. She was born in Merredin on 10 December 1931 and died in Perth on 31 January 2018.

Brenda surrounded herself with an enduring network of academic colleagues, neighbourhood friends and members of her church. She maintained her family connections, friendships and affiliations with great care and love.

Brenda lived proudly as an independent career woman; an educator of teachers at Mount Lawley College, the Western Australian College of Advanced Education and Edith Cowan University.

In retirement she created a beautiful garden for quiet moments, for entertaining friends and as a magical habitat for her beloved cats. She will be missed.

Michael Hennessy

In a prestigious education career Michael served as a school principal in WA within the Catholic system, spent a few years teaching in Sweden and then served the WA Education Department in several schools as well as lecturing at Curtin and Edith Cowan Universities.

Michael Hennessey – Testimony

Murray Swain

Neil Tuckwell

Deceased 12th Nov, 2022 MNS – cousin to Alan True – more info required

Brian Haines

Patricia Formentin

Trish Formentin, a lecturer in education at Mt Lawley campus of WACAE was interested in providing education for special education teachers as there had previously been no formal training in teaching children with intellectual disabilities.

Kay Jones

Helena Melville-Jones

Anthony Monks

James Rainford

James Rainford came to MLTC from Manchester, 1972.

He was employed as a Senior Lecturer in Education and Psychology and Distance Education, at MLTC, which later became part of ECU.

Steven Saunders

James Cameron

Gordon Cooper

James Plumridge

Peter Short

Judith Towler

Carolyn Williams

Adrian Young

Marianne John

Stephan Stahlsmith

Derrick Tomlinson

Derrick Tomlinson was a high school teacher and in 1977, a lecturer at Mt Lawley College of Advanced Education.

He was seconded to the Schools Commission in Canberra to research alternative methods of funding schools and eventually became a member of the East Metropolitan Region, WA parliament.