Lecturer - Foundation & Professional Studies
BA Philosophy, Honours (Macquarie U); Dip Ed, with merit (USyd); PhD (USyd); Graduate Certificate University Learning and Teaching (UNSW)
| Contact Campus | Sandy Bay Campus |
| Building | Hytten Hall, Sandy Bay campus |
| Room Reference | 522 |
| Telephone | +61 3 6226 2567 |
| Fax | +61 3 6226 2569 |
| Kerry.Howells@utas.edu.au |
Dr Kerry Howells is a teacher educator in the UTAS Faculty of Education, teaching in the areas of educational philosophy, professional studies and practitioner research. Kerry is currently coordinating and teaching in the Department of Education Partnerships in Teaching Excellence program (PiTE).
Kerry has been teaching in various university contexts for the last two decades. Before taking up her position at the University of Tasmania in 2006, she was Director of Learning and Teaching in the Faculty of Commerce and Economics at the University of New South Wales and lecturer in the Graduate Certificate of University Learning and Teaching. From 1991 to 2001 Kerry was a lecturer in philosophy and learning strategies at Bond University. Kerry completed her PhD in Philosophy of Education at the University of Sydney.
In order to fully realise her passion to teach to the ‘awake’ or truly present learner, no matter what the subject matter, Kerry developed ‘A State of Preparedness’, a unique approach to teaching and learning which addresses student disengagement. Her approach advocates for students to take greater responsibility for the state of being they bring to their learning, and what they can give back out of gratitude. Over the past fifteen years she has demonstrated that traditional teaching and learning practices are enhanced by greater attention to practices of gratitude, and that students’ gratitude is more fully realised when teachers and school leaders first attend to their practice of gratitude.
Dr Howells has applied this approach to 12 teaching and leadership roles and in invited presentations at eight different universities and five schools, many of which have participated in her research on the role of gratitude in education. Since her commencement at UTAS in 2006, Kerry has been the recipient of nine teaching awards – including three national awards, and the 2009 UTAS Teaching Excellence Award.
Kerry’s research focus is the role of gratitude in education, and its application for school leaders, teachers, parents and university and high school students (years 11 and 12). She facilitates several action research projects with teachers and principals in primary and high schools, and conducts seminars on the role of gratitude to promote greater student engagement, teacher resilience and enhanced relationships.
Kerry’s recent book publication is the first full comprehensive text to explore the relevance of gratitude in both the teaching and learning process.
> Further book details and buy online.
Masters of Teaching:
Bachelor of Education: