Teaching and Research Staff4286651

Dr Janelle Hill

BA (Psychology) Deakin, BSc (Hons) (Biology) Deakin, BEd (F-12) VU, MEd (Mathematics and Science Education) Monash, CELTA Cambridge, PhD Monash

Dr Janelle Hill is a Lecturer in Mathematics Education at Charles Sturt University, specialising in equity, gender, and participation in mathematics, science, and technology education. She brings extensive experience as a qualified mathematics and science teacher across both primary and secondary settings, complemented by a diverse professional background spanning education, science, and social work. This breadth of experience informs her practice, enabling her to draw meaningful connections between theory and classroom contexts, and to support the development of reflective, capable educators.

Janelle plays a significant leadership role in professional learning and curriculum design. She is the academic lead for the Victorian Department of Education’s Mathematics Education Micro Credentials program and for the Charles Sturt University’s microcredential offerings for out-of-field mathematics and science teachers. Through these roles, she supports strengthening teacher capability and improving equitable access to high-quality STEM education.

She is a committed lifelong learner, continually expanding her expertise through research and professional development, including the study of languages such as German, Spanish, and French.

Janelle teaches across undergraduate and postgraduate Initial Teacher Education programs, preparing future teachers to deliver inclusive, evidence-informed mathematics teaching that supports both conceptual understanding and learner confidence.

Her teaching philosophy emphasises supportive, challenging, and engaging learning environments that foster relational understanding alongside procedural skill development. She prioritises helping students build deep conceptual insight and strong professional identities as educators.

Her practice is grounded in evidence-based approaches, including Universal Design for Learning and active, collaborative pedagogies, to ensure equitable participation for diverse learners across regional, rural, and online contexts. A strong social justice lens underpins her teaching, with particular attention to how gendered experiences shape learners’ engagement with mathematics and STEM.

Janelle is an active researcher in mathematics education, with a focus on equity, gender, and the ways pedagogy, curriculum, and technology shape student engagement and participation. Her research spans inclusive mathematics practices, statistical and data literacy, technology-enhanced learning, and factors influencing mathematics achievement.

Her recent research examines how teacher recommendations function as a form of educational choice architecture, shaping participation in advanced mathematics and STEM pathways, with important implications for equity and access. Her broader program explores gender equity in mathematics education and the systemic, cultural, and pedagogical factors influencing participation across schooling contexts.

She also investigates out-of-field mathematics teaching, particularly in regional and rural settings, focussing on how teachers develop mathematical content knowledge and pedagogical confidence, and the role of targeted professional learning in supporting effective practice. Through this work, she contributes to evidence-informed approaches that strengthen teacher capability and improve equitable access to high-quality mathematics education.