Amber McLeod is a lecturer and researcher in the Faculty of Education, Monash University.  Before joining Monash, Amber was a microbiologist and then taught English as an Additional Language in Japan, Brunei and Australia.  As the Director of Pathway Programs, access and equity is a thread that runs through Amber’s academic interests and she prioritises the development of transferrable skills in young people, in particular, looking at how digital competence can be taught in pathway courses, and its role in successful student transition to university and retention. 

Amber teaches a range of technology units in the faculty and her teaching and research are closely intertwined as she explores the best way to prepare teachers to effectively use digital technology to improve teaching and learning. Amber’s PhD evaluated an Australian Research Council funded ICT intervention program in Australian secondary schools. Her current research examines assumptions about digital technologies, cultural understandings of ICT, and ways to build pre-service teacher digital confidence and competence.  She has delivered professional development workshops on coding, robotics and integrating digital technologies across the curriculum to support student learning to Australian and international primary and secondary school teachers. These experiences have given her an understanding of the barriers teachers face and where they require support. 

Access and equity in education

Cultural and gendered understandings of ICT

Digital literacy in pre-service teachers

Tech Savvy Teachers is an initiative which aims to increase ICT literacy in pre-service teachers at Monash. It is delivered as a series of opt-in workshops on using ICT in the classroom that run throughout the year. Workshops include digital presentations, using iPads, electronic whiteboards, simple programming and robotics, augmented reality, creating real time surveys, excel, making YouTube videos and information on borrowing resources from the TLS.