Gwendolyn Lawrie

Biography

Gwen gained a BSc (Applied Chemistry, Hons) from Sheffield Hallam University (UK) in 1986 and a PhD in Physical Chemistry from Cranfield University (UK) in 1990. Gwen has held several postdoctoral and senior research appointments between 1991 and 2005, serving as a CI on multiple ARC grants and supervising numerous RHD and undergraduate research students. In 2006, Gwen decided to pursue her growing interest in how students acquired and applied their conceptual understanding (after supervising many research students who held basic misconceptions). She held an Honorary Research Consultant appointment during 2006/7 while she completed a Graduate Diploma in Education (UQ) and then taught in high schools. Gwen commenced a teaching-focused appointment in the School of Chemistry & Molecular Biosciences in 2008. Successfully transferring from bench chemistry research into chemistry education and discipline-based education research, Gwen's projects to date have addressed diversity and engagement of students through collaborative inquiry tasks, the implementation of undergraduate research experiences, and mechanisms for provision of formative feedback to support self-regulated learning (all funded by Category 1 national teaching & learning funding grants).

Research Interest

Development of formative feedback mechanisms to enhance self-regulated construction/correction of student missing- and misconceptions in chemistry. Learning design of technology-enhanced collaborative learning environments. Investigation of relationships between undergraduate research experiences, student engagement and deeper thinking.