Dr Marian Mahat: Innovative learning spaces, co-designing curriculum and pedagogy and what it is really like to be a woman in academia.

It is my great pleasure to introduce you today to the amazing Dr Marian Mahat - she has over 20 years of professional and academic experience across multiple education sectors. 

Her research focuses on learning environments, with an emphasis on co-designing curriculum and pedagogy, teacher-led inquiry, and professional development. 

She was the lead Research Fellow and Research Manager of the Australian Research Council Linkage Innovative Learning Environments and Teacher Change (ILETC). The Project worked with Australian and New Zealand schools to develop a capacity for teachers and school leaders to teach and transition into innovative learning environments.

In this discussion we talked about: 

1. Why does design matter? How can we create spaces that catalyse learning? 
2. The role of co-designing curriculum and pedagogy why it has been such a focus of her work
3. Why there has been a shift from ‘identical classrooms and autonomous teachers to more collaborative shared spaces?” 
4. How we can tell if these new spaces will be effective?

This was actually one of my favourite interviews on the podcast and I left the discussion so excited about the future of our profession.

Here is her Micro-Certification: 

https://bit.ly/3BRoUIP

Here are a few of Dr Marian’s latest research papers:

Integrated Learning Environments - Scoping Study 2021-2022

Women thriving in academia: Exploring the terrain

Innovative perspectives and approaches for enhancing the student experience

Whether you work in a new school, an old school or anywhere in between I really below that you will get something out of our discussion today.