Doctor Nathan Berger
Senior Lecturer,
Secondary Education
Senior Lecturer,
Secondary Education
Biography
I am Senior Lecturer in Secondary Education at Western Sydney University. I have degrees in information technology, secondary teaching in the social sciences, and quantitative educational research. My PhD examined young people's career and education aspirations and was awarded by the University of Newcastle, Australia. My research training has developed skills in both quantitative and qualitative social research methods, including survey and focus group methodologies, and sophisticated techniques for analysis of large datasets.
I have presented my research at national conferences across Australia and at international conferences in Denmark, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. I have worked with colleagues to establish a publication record in high-quality journals and to secure $2.5 million in research funding. A significant proportion of this funding has enabled close collaboration with industry partners across the education and government sectors, with a focus on program evaluation and teacher professional development.
This information has been contributed by Doctor Berger.
Qualifications
- PhD University of Newcastle (NSW)
- MEd Stud University of Newcastle (NSW)
- MTeach Dist University of Newcastle (NSW)
- BIT University of Newcastle (NSW)
Professional Memberships
- Australian Association for Research in Education (AARE) (2013)
- Australian College of Educators (2012 - 2015)
- British Educational Research Association (2015 - 2016)
Interests
- Educational Psychology
- STEM Education
- Secondary Education
Organisational Unit (School / Division)
- Secondary Education
- Secondary Education
Committees
- School Research Committee
- Postgraduate Specialist Studies Committee
- Secondary Program Committee
- Academic Senate Research Studies Committee (2019)
- Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) Self-Assessment Team (2018-2020)
Contact
| Email: | N.Berger@westernsydney.edu.au |
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| Phone: | |
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Teaching
Current Teaching Areas
- 102636 Educational Psychology
- CEDS7003 Research Methods in Education
- TEAC7027 Designing Teaching and Learning
- TEAC7082 Pedagogy for Positive Learning Environments
- TEAC7116 Researching STEM Education for Future Leadership
- TEAC7152 Applied Robotics and Programming in Secondary STEM Education
Previous Teaching Areas
- 102082 Pedagogy for Positive Learning Environments, 2021
- 102086 Designing Teaching and Learning, 2016
- 102086 Designing Teaching and Learning, 2017
- 102086 Designing Teaching and Learning, 2018
- 102086 Designing Teaching and Learning, 2019
- 102089 Secondary Curriculum 1C, 2020
- 102092 Secondary Curriculum 2C, 2020
- 102508 STEM foundations, 2018
- 102509 Computational Thinking across the STEM Curriculum, 2017
- 102509 Computational Thinking across the STEM Curriculum, 2018
- 102509 Computational Thinking across the STEM Curriculum, 2019
- 102509 Computational Thinking across the STEM Curriculum, 2020
- 102509 Computational Thinking across the STEM Curriculum, 2021
- 102511 STEM Pedagogies in Practice, 2019
- 102512 Researching STEM Education for Future Leadership, 2019
- 102512 Researching STEM Education for Future Leadership, 2020
- 102512 Researching STEM Education for Future Leadership, 2021
- 102763 Applied Robotics and Programming in Secondary STEM Education, 2020
- 102763 Applied Robotics and Programming in Secondary STEM Education, 2021
- 102824 Research Methods in Education, 2021
Publications
Chapters in Books
- Archer, J. and Berger, N. (2021), 'The distinctions separating the social classes : an examination of noncognitive variables in educational contexts', SELF: A Multidisciplinary Concept, Information Age Publishing 9781648022630.
- Berger, N. and Archer, J. (2020), 'Understanding the psycho-social dimensions of schools and classrooms', Oxford Bibliographies, Oxford University Press .
- Berger, N. and Archer, J. (2015), 'The relationship between social class and students' academic achievement goals : three hypotheses', Routledge International Handbook of Social Psychology of the Classroom, Routledge 9780415856966.
Journal Articles
- Holmes, K., Berger, N., Mackenzie, E., Attard, C., Johnson, P., Fitzmaurice, O., O'Meara, N. and Ryan, V. (2022), 'Editorial : the impact of place-based contextualised curriculum on student engagement and motivation in STEM education', Frontiers in Education, vol 6 .
- Mackenzie, E., Berger, N., Holmes, K. and Walker, M. (2021), 'Online educational research with middle adolescent populations : ethical considerations and recommendations', Research Ethics, vol 17, no 2 , pp 217 - 227.
- Mackenzie, E., Berger, N. and Holmes, K. (2021), 'Predicting adolescent girls' intentions to study science in senior high school', Issues in Educational Research, vol 31, no 2 , pp 574 - 585.
- Holmes, K., Mackenzie, E., Berger, N. and Walker, M. (2021), 'Linking K-12 STEM pedagogy to local contexts : a scoping review of benefits and limitations', Frontiers in Education, vol 6 .
- Attard, C., Berger, N. and Mackenzie, E. (2021), 'The positive influence of inquiry-based learning teacher professional learning and industry partnerships on student engagement with STEM', Frontiers in Education, vol 6 .
- Berger, N., Holmes, K., Gore, J. and Archer, J. (2020), 'Charting career aspirations : a latent class mixture model of aspiration trajectories in childhood and adolescence', The Australian Educational Researcher, vol 47 , pp 651 - 678.
- Berger, N., Mackenzie, E. and Holmes, K. (2020), 'Positive attitudes towards mathematics and science are mutually beneficial for student achievement : a latent profile analysis of TIMSS 2015', The Australian Educational Researcher, vol 47 , pp 409 - 444.
- Berger, N., Hanham, J., Stevens, C. and Holmes, K. (2019), 'Immediate feedback improves career decision self-efficacy and aspirational alignment', Frontiers in Psychology, vol 10 .
- Tan, L., Berger, N., Jones, K., Southall, M. and Mason, K. (2019), 'Top five steps in championing STEM innovations', Science Education News, vol 68, no 1 , pp 32 - 36.
- Berger, N. and Archer, J. (2018), 'Qualitative insights into the relationship between socioeconomic status and students' academic achievement goals', Social Psychology of Education, vol 21, no 4 , pp 787 - 803.
- Berger, N. and Archer, J. (2016), 'School socio-economic status and student socio-academic achievement goals in upper secondary contexts', Social Psychology of Education, vol 19, no 1 , pp 175 - 194.
- Berger, N. (2016), 'Thesis abstract : A social psychological examination of factors shaping career and education aspirations through childhood and adolescence', Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales, vol 149, no 1 & 2 , pp 84 - 84.
Conference Papers
- Mackenzie, E., Holmes, K. and Berger, N. (2022), 'The role of mathematics anxiety and attitudes in adolescents' intentions to study senior science', Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia. Conference, Launceston, Tas..
- Holmes, K., Prieto-Rodriguez, E., Hickmott, D. and Berger, N. (2018), 'Using coding to teach mathematics : results of a pilot project', International STEM in Education Conference, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Qld..
- Gore, J., Holmes, K., Smith, M., Ellis, H., Albright, J., Southgate, E. and Berger, N. (2014), 'On the relationship between socio-economic status and educational and career aspirations in the middle years of schooling', American Educational Research Association. Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, Pa..
Other Publications
- 2022, 'Parramatta Light Rail Teacher Professional Development Project: Final Report to Transport for NSW', Report
- 2022, 'Inquiry-based Learning Professional Development: Using Australia's Largest Infrastructure Project to Engage Students: Final Report to Sydney Metro', Report
- 2020, 'Teaching Resource on Flooding in the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley: Assessing the Impact on Student Learning', Report
- 2019, 'Fast Tracking the Future Education Program: Sydney Metro Professional Development Project Evaluation', Report
The Inquiry-Based Learning Professional Development Program, funded by Sydney Metro, has received a Commendation for Cutting Edge Research and Teaching in the NSW Awards for Planning Excellence 2020!
This information has been contributed by Doctor Berger.
Current Projects
| Title: | Promoting adolescents' mathematics engagement and participation in NSW |
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| Funder: |
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| Western Researchers: | Kathryn Holmes, Nathan Berger and Erin Mackenzie |
| Years: | 2022-06-15 - 2024-06-30 |
| ID: | P00027543 |
| Title: | Inquiry based learning professional development: Using Australia's largest infrastructure project to engage students |
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| Western Researchers: | Catherine Attard and Nathan Berger |
| Years: | 2020-06-29 - 2022-12-31 |
| ID: | P00026627 |
| Title: | HSC Strategy Academic Partner |
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| Western Researchers: | Kathryn Holmes, Nathan Berger and Susanne Gannon |
| Years: | 2022-05-04 - 2024-05-03 |
| ID: | P00027924 |
Previous Projects
| Title: | Flooding in the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley: School Geography Resource |
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| Funder: |
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| Western Researchers: | Kay Carroll, Kathryn Holmes, Nathan Berger, Erin Mackenzie and Basant Maheshwari |
| Years: | 2018-12-03 - 2020-02-28 |
| ID: | P00025428 |
| Title: | HSC Teaching Quality Strategy |
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| Western Researchers: | Kathryn Holmes, Nathan Berger, Susanne Gannon and Wayne Sawyer |
| Years: | 2020-01-22 - 2021-12-23 |
| ID: | P00026286 |
| Title: | Learn+ Evaluation |
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| Western Researchers: | Kathryn Holmes and Nathan Berger |
| Years: | 2020-11-02 - 2021-07-30 |
| ID: | P00026852 |
| Title: | Introduction to Teaching for Tutors Online Professional Development |
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| Western Researchers: | Kathryn Holmes and Nathan Berger |
| Years: | 2017-09-18 - 2018-07-27 |
| ID: | P00024563 |
| Title: | Parramatta Light Rail Teacher Professional Development Project |
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| Western Researchers: | Catherine Attard, Nathan Berger and Erin Mackenzie |
| Years: | 2018-10-15 - 2021-06-30 |
| ID: | P00025472 |
| Title: | Evaluation of the CEDP Numeracy and Mathematics Strategy |
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| Western Researchers: | Kathryn Holmes and Nathan Berger |
| Years: | 2016-05-04 - 2016-08-31 |
| ID: | P00023458 |
Supervision
Current Supervision
| Thesis Title: | The Decline of Coding Subjects and the New Alienation: Investigating the Role of Software Studies in the Era of Cloud, Mobile and Social Technologies |
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| Field of Research: |
Previous Supervision
| Thesis Title: | The Use of Mobile Devices for Self-Directed Learning Outside the Classroom Among EFL University Students in Saudi Arabia |
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| Field of Research: | English As A Second Language Teaching; Other Education; English Language |
| Thesis Title: | The relationship between teaching practices and Australian Students' science achievement: Analysis of TIMSS 2019 |
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| Thesis Title: | Making Hanzi Learnable for Nonbackground Beginning Learners: An Action Research Study in a Primary School in Australia. |
| Field of Research: | Education |
Media
| Title: | What do you want to be when you grow up? |
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| Description: | AARE EduResearchMatter post on childrens career and education aspirations. |
| Title: | Aspiration alone wont lift pupils |
| Description: | TES report on research into the career and education aspirations of young people. |
| Title: | How a positive attitude can boost academic outcomes |
| Description: | Research into adolescent attitudes towards mathematics and science reported in The Educator. |
| Title: | Do the maths, its a winning formula |
| Description: | Research into adolescent attitudes towards mathematics and science reported in The Australian. |