Amy MacDonald

Professorial Staff

Professor Amy MacDonald

BEd (Prim)(Hons, Class 1), CSU; PhD, CSU

Professor in Education
Albury / Wodonga
Building 763, Room 143

Amy is a Professor in Education in the School of Education on the Albury-Wodonga campus. She has a Bachelor of Education (Primary)(Honours Class 1) degree and a PhD in early childhood mathematics education, both from Charles Sturt University. She was an Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) Research Fellow for 2018-2021.

Amy’s research focuses on children’s pathways in STEM education, from the foundational mathematical experiences of babies and toddlers, through to transitions and trajectories in early childhood, primary, and secondary STEM education. Her ARC DECRA project investigated mathematics education for children under three years of age by examining the beliefs and practices of the educators who work with these children. Other recent projects include the longitudinal evaluation of the Little Scientists early STEM program; evaluation of the Let’s Count online numeracy program; and co-leadership of the NSW Department of Education’s Ambassador Schools Research Centre (ASRC).

Amy’s research explores the mathematics, and STEM, experiences and education of infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and children in the early years of primary school. Amy is an internationally recognised early childhood mathematics education researcher and has received awards for her work in this area, including the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia (MERGA) Early Career Award, the NSW Institute for Educational Research Beth Southwell Research Award, and the CSU Faculty of Education Outstanding Thesis Prize for her mathematics education PhD. Her ARC DECRA project investigated mathematics education for children under three years of age by examining the beliefs and practices of the educators who work with these children.

More recently, Amy has focused on STEM education more broadly. She was involved in all three of the early childhood STEM initiatives funded by the Federal Government through the Innovation Agenda: Let’s Count; Little Scientists; and the Early Learning STEM Australia (ELSA) pilot programme. Her current projects include an investigation of primary science teaching practices, and a study of the benefits of motorsport participation for children’s STEM education.

Amy is available for Higher Degree Research (HDR) supervision in the areas of mathematics and STEM education, from early childhood to secondary education.

Amy is a former Editor of the Mathematics Education Research Journal (MERJ) (Q1) and a current member of the MERJ Editorial Board. She was a Vice-President of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia, and is an Expert Advisor for the Australian Council for Educational Research and the Mathematical Association of Victoria. She was the Co-Leader (CSU Lead)of the NSW Department of Education’s Ambassador Schools Research Centre.

Amy’s research has direct influence on early childhood, mathematics, and STEM education policy and practice both nationally and internationally, with uptake of her work by the Australian Prime Minister and cabinet; Australian State Departments of Education, curriculum authorities, and professional associations; and by the National Science Teaching Association (USA).