Experience

Okanagan College

• Higher Education
• 200 - 300 Employee

• Faculty Member, Department of Physics and Astronomy

  • Aug 2016 - Present

  Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada I teach first and second year physics and astronomy courses at Okanagan College. As time permits, I also engage in astronomical research and science outreach.



ROBERT COLLEGE ISTANBUL

• Education Administration Programs
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Physics Teacher

  • Aug 2015 - Aug 2016

  Istanbul, Turkey At Robert College I taught Introductory Physics and Modern Physics to Grade 9-12 students. In my teaching I focused on student conceptual understanding of physics concepts, making use of hands-on activities, peer instruction, small group discussions, and online homework. I also ran a weekly astronomy club for Robert College students.



Swinburne University of Technology

• Australia
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Instructor for Swinburne Astronomy Online

  • Jun 2004 - Aug 2015

  I was a course instructor for the Swinburne Astronomy Online program since 2004, and taught six courses over 20 semesters during that time. As instructor, I moderated newsgroups, marked essays, newsgroup contributions, and set and marked online exams. I received very positive feedback from my students, and was considered an excellent instructor.



Limestone District School Board

• Canada
• Education Administration Programs
• 700 & Above Employee

• Secondary Occasional Teacher

  • Sep 2013 - Jun 2015

  Limestone School Board As an occasional teacher, I was called in as needed to teach in high schools in the Limestone District School Board. I primarily taught Grade 9/10 science and math, and Grade 11/12 physics, chemistry, biology, and math.



Queen's University

• Canada
• Higher Education

• Adjunct Professor

  • Sep 2014 - May 2015

  Kingston, Ontario, Canada I taught three astronomy courses during this year. Two of these courses were introductory courses for non-majors covering the solar system, stars, galaxies, and cosmology, and the third course was a third year astrophysics course. I used active teaching approaches in these courses, including peer instruction with clickers, just-in-time teaching, and lecture tutorials to engage students and increase conceptual understanding. As Instructor I prepared lectures, set and marked assignments and… Show more I taught three astronomy courses during this year. Two of these courses were introductory courses for non-majors covering the solar system, stars, galaxies, and cosmology, and the third course was a third year astrophysics course. I used active teaching approaches in these courses, including peer instruction with clickers, just-in-time teaching, and lecture tutorials to engage students and increase conceptual understanding. As Instructor I prepared lectures, set and marked assignments and exams, maintained course Moodle sites, and met with students.

• Educational Research (Ph.D. Dissertation)

  • 2009 - 2015

  Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada I recently completed a Ph.D. in the Faculty of Education at Queen's University, undertaking qualitative research in the areas of science education and teacher professional development through lesson study. In this research I worked with six Grade 7-8 teachers who collaboratively developed a science lesson; I documented the impact that this lesson study collaboration had on the teachers' science knowledge, teaching practices, and confidence, and the benefits and challenges that they encountered.… Show more I recently completed a Ph.D. in the Faculty of Education at Queen's University, undertaking qualitative research in the areas of science education and teacher professional development through lesson study. In this research I worked with six Grade 7-8 teachers who collaboratively developed a science lesson; I documented the impact that this lesson study collaboration had on the teachers' science knowledge, teaching practices, and confidence, and the benefits and challenges that they encountered. I presented results from this work at the Canadian Society for the Study of Education conferences in 2012 and 2013.

• Graduate Teaching Fellow

  • Sep 2011 - Dec 2013

  Faculty of Education I taught the Physics curriculum course in the Fall of 2013 to intermediate/senior teacher candidates. In the previous two years, I taught three sections of the science curriculum course to primary/junior teacher candidates. As instructor, I helped teacher candidates improve their science content knowledge, I facilitated hands-on inquiry experiences, and I gave teacher candidates strategies to teach science effectively. I brought in Education faculty and science teachers to talk to the teacher… Show more I taught the Physics curriculum course in the Fall of 2013 to intermediate/senior teacher candidates. In the previous two years, I taught three sections of the science curriculum course to primary/junior teacher candidates. As instructor, I helped teacher candidates improve their science content knowledge, I facilitated hands-on inquiry experiences, and I gave teacher candidates strategies to teach science effectively. I brought in Education faculty and science teachers to talk to the teacher candidates, and I created opportunities for the teacher candidates to teach science in local schools.

• Research Associate, Community Outreach Centre, Faculty of Education

  • 2010 - 2012

  I was a Research Associate with Professor Lynda Colgan, Co-Ordinator of the Community Outreach Centre at the Faculty of Education. In this position I worked to bring Science Rendezvous (http://www.sciencerendezvous.ca/queens-university) to Kingston in May 2011 and May 2012, and I was also involved with the program evaluation of Science Rendezvous.



St. Lawrence College

• Canada
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Part-Time Instructor

  • Jan 2014 - May 2014

  Kingston, Ontario I taught an introductory physics course to students in the Pre-Health Sciences program at St. Lawrence College. This program prepares students to be eligible for the St. Lawrence College/Laurentian University Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.



Australian Gemini Office

• Australian Deputy Gemini Scientist

  • May 2008 - Nov 2008

  I assisted Australian Gemini users with Gemini telescope applications and data reduction, engaged in astronomical outreach with the Australian Gemini School Contest, and carried out astronomical research using the Gemini and Anglo-Australian telescopes.



Anglo Australian Observatory

• Research Astronomer

  • Jan 1999 - Nov 2003

  I carried out astronomical research, worked with visiting observers to the Anglo-Australian Telescope, and was Project Scientist for the 2dF multi-fibre spectrograph.



Royal Greenwich Observatory and University of Cambridge

• Research Astronomer

  • May 1994 - Feb 1999

  Cambridge, UK I carried out astronomical research, worked with visiting observers to the William Herschel Telescope in La Palma, and was Project Scientist for the WYFFOS multi-fibre spectrograph on the WHT.