Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Katrina (Ekaterina) is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education at Monash University. Her research focuses on the digital literacies of children and adults from refugee and migrant backgrounds. It investigates the ways in which these groups use digital technologies in English as an Additional Language (EAL) for life, learning and employment. It aims to enhance educational policies and pedagogies for digital literacies in EAL/TESOL settings locally and internationally. Katrina's research projects in EAL contexts have examined innovative teaching and learning with technologies, in-service and pre-service teachers’ experience with digital literacies, teaching online and leadership for change during the Covid-19 pandemic, AI literacy and technology use in communities from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Ethiopia, Somali, Vietnam, Iraq and China as they settle in Australia.
Katrina publishes in the field of digital literacies and TESOL. She has provided expert advice to the government regarding digital literacies in the EAL curriculum in schools and the AMEP (Adult Migrant English Program) sector. In 2021-2022, Katrina led the development and implementation of the AMEP Digital Literacies Framework and Guide (PDF downloads). Katrina is a recipient of a number of professional awards.
Before moving to Australia, Katrina taught English language in a variety of contexts from primary to tertiary education. She teaches in the Faculty's teacher education undergraduate and postgraduate programs. Katrina is currently a Course Leader for MTESOL.
Research interests
Digital literacies /new literacies
The use of digital technologies in language education including TESOL
Generative AI and AI literacy
AI bias and critical AI literacy
Multimodality and digital multimodal composing
Refugee and migrant communities
Strengths-based practices and technology
Sociocultural theories of language, technology and education
Visual research methodology
Research area keywords
- Digital/new literacies
- AI literacy
- TESOL
- Digital technologies
- English as an Additional Language (EAL)
- Migrants and refugees
- Generative AI
- Digital multimodal composing
- Critical AI literacy
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Human vs. AI Agency: An Evidence-Based Approach to Overcome Over-Reliance And Achieve Co-Intelligence
Lam Lai Chuen, P. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Pegrum, M. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Tour, K. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Wai Kei Chan , W. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Yi Hiu Lin, V. (Chief Investigator (CI))
1/01/26 → 31/07/28
Project: Research
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English as an Additional Language (EAL) pedagogy for secondary school classrooms
Keary, A. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Turner, M. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Bradfield, K. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Tour, K. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Creely, E. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Bonar, G. (Chief Investigator (CI))
1/02/25 → 31/08/25
Project: Research
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Harnessing generative AI: Understanding the needs of the Skills for Education and Employment (SEE) program
Tour, K. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Henderson, M. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Creely, E. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Waterhouse, P. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Barnes, M. (Chief Investigator (CI))
1/10/23 → 31/05/24
Project: Research
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AMEP Digital Literacies Framework and Guide: Supporting Pedagogies for Digital Literacies in the Adult EAL Contexts
Tour, K. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Creely, E. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Waterhouse, P. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Henderson, M. (Chief Investigator (CI))
26/05/21 → 30/06/22
Project: Research
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Home Languages in the English Classroom: Working with Multilingual Texts
Turner, M. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Keary, A. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Tour, K. (Chief Investigator (CI))
17/05/21 → 30/07/22
Project: Research
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AI-mediated translanguaging
Tour, E., Creely, E. & Turner, M., 2026, (Accepted/In press) The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Computer-Assisted Language Learning. McCallum, L. & Tafazoli, D. (eds.). Living ed. Cham Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan, p. 1-9 9 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Encyclopaedia / Dictionary Entry › Other › peer-review
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Developing teachers’ critical language awareness through multilingual digital multimodal composing in Australian primary classrooms
Turner, M. & Tour, E., 2026, (Accepted/In press) In: Language and Education. 20 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access -
Exploring AI literacy practices and capabilities of adult EAL learners from migrant and refugee backgrounds
Tour, E., Creely, E., Barnes, M., Henderson, M., Waterhouse, P., Pegrum, M. & Agudelo Pena, M., 2026, (Accepted/In press) In: Language Teaching Research. 25 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access -
Re-positioning language learners from refugee backgrounds as powerful meaning-makers: a case study in an Australian primary school
Barnes, M. & Tour, E., 2026, Diversity and Inclusivity in English Language Education: International Perspectives. Bao, D., O'Reilly, D. & Barnes, M. (eds.). 1st ed. Bristol UK: Multilingual Matters, p. 17-29 13 p. (New Perspectives on Language and Education).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (Book) › Research › peer-review
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Rethinking digital multimodal composing by embracing linguistic and cultural diversity in the classroom
Tour, E. & Barnes, M., 2026, Multilingualism as Opportunity: An Integrated Perspective on English and Languages Education in Australia. Turner, M. & Green, B. (eds.). 1st ed. Abingdon UK: Routledge, p. 127-143 17 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (Book) › Research › peer-review
Prizes
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Australian Postgraduate Award (2010)
Tour, K. (Recipient), 2010
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Best Paper Award
Tour, K. (Recipient), Creely, E. (Recipient) & Waterhouse, P. (Recipient), 1 Jun 2021
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Dean's Award for Programs that Enhance learning (2016)
Tour, K. (Recipient), 22 Nov 2016
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Dean's Award for Teaching and Learning
Chan, W. (Recipient), Tour, K. (Recipient), Zhang, H. (Recipient) & Ji, G. (Recipient), 2023
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Activities
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VicTESOL Workshop 2026
Tour, K. (Invited speaker), Creely, E. (Invited speaker) & Turner, M. (Organiser)
19 Mar 2026Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to workshop, seminar, course
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AMEP/SEE Digital Literacy Community of Practice Seminar
Tour, K. (Invited speaker)
2 Sept 2026Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to workshop, seminar, course
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The Centre for Learning Enhancement &Research / The Chinese University of Hong Kong workshop series: Cultivating critical and creative agency in AI-enhanced learning
Tour, K. (Keynote/plenary speaker) & Pegrum, M. (Keynote/plenary speaker)
27 May 2026Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to workshop, seminar, course
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Digital empowerment: Building adult EAL learners’ confidence and competence in digital landscapes
Tour, K. (Contributor) & Creely, E. (Contributor)
28 Aug 2025Activity: Community Talks, Presentations, Exhibitions and Events › Public lecture/debate/seminar
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Australian Association for Research in Education (AARE) Conference 2025
Creely, E. (Speaker) & Tour, K. (Speaker)
2 Dec 2025Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to conference
Press/Media
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The art of the back and forth: What teachers need to know about writing with AI
1/05/26
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature
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AI literacy for English language learners
Tour, K. & Pegrum, M.
15/09/25
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Blogs, Podcasts and Social Media › Podcasts
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Дети как «культурные брокеры» и Google карты как учебник: Необычные способы учить английский язык [Children as "cultural brokers" and Google Maps as a learning resource: Unconventional ways to learn English]
14/04/25
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Blogs, Podcasts and Social Media › Podcasts
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Settling in Australia: how can generative AI help?
Tour, K., Creely, E. & Barnes, M.
18/02/25
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature