Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Sarika has been a primary/secondary science, chemistry and mathematics teacher for 10 years in Melbourne, Australia. Her versatile experiences in PreK-12 contexts, previous Monash university research studies, affiliation with primary and secondary public and independent schools/preschools in Melbourne, including being a secondary school’s Head of Science Domain (2010-2014) guided her passion to complete her PhD studies at Monash university in 2017.
Sarika's current research projects involve conceptualising kindergarten and primary teachers' understanding of the nexus between creative STEM-based play and using technologies in their teaching practices and educational programs in ways that promote children's learning and development. Through her research, Sarika provides exemplars of evidence-based practices to meaningfully integrate technologies (e.g. Robotics/IoToys/Artificially Intelligent toys) in developmentally appropriate ways to progress for example vulnerable children’s persistence on tasks, problem solving and resilience building skills. Exploring parental engagement in young children's safe use of technologies for edutainment and STEM learning experiences is Sarika’s other area of expertise. Sarika’s recent research investigates how parents with children who have additional needs (e.g. EAL, language delays, ADHD) have been engaging children in home-based hands on virtual STEM learning experiences during the COVID-19 lockdowns.
Sarika is the Co-convenor of European Early Childhood Education Research Association (EECERA) SIG 'Digital Childhoods, STEM and Multimodality' where she established and leads the STEM workstream. She has built a strong international presence through her international collaborations by being an active member of EECERA, European Science Education Research Association (ESERA), Australian Science Education Research Association (ASERA) and
Sarika has recently designed an evidence-based Monash short course (available online) for 'Coding and Robotics: Enabling STEM-based Play in Early Childhood'. This course is suitable for educators who are seeking to upscale and upskill their knowledge and understandings to promote children’s (including children with diverse needs) problem solving and resilience building through STEM-based play. For more info please visit https://www.monash.edu/education/professional-continuing-education/early-childhood/coding-and-robotics-in-early-childhood-education
Sarika also offers customised PD programs/webinars for EC educators focusing on best international STEM-based practices, for example to promote children's design play and inquiry thinking processes. You can follow Sarika on her facebook - https://www.facebook.com/stemirific/ and Twitter handles @sararamani77 @MonashEducation and @MonashUni
Monash teaching commitment
EDF 1061 - Working in education: An introduction to the profession
EDF 5030 - Science education in the primary years
EDF 4023 - Science and technology education in the primary years
EDF 3035 - Investigating our world: Science, technology and the environment in Early Years settings (Chief examiner).
EDF 4006 - Transition and professional engagement
Research area keywords
- Transforming teaching and learning
- Educating for diversity and inclusion
- STEM in early childhood education
- primary science/STEM education
- Teacher Professional Learning
Network
Projects
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Robotics and Coding: Enhancing disadvantaged children’s communication and language development
Kewalramani, S., Kidman, G., Tan, H., Kameswaran, K. & Macdonald, S.
5/10/20 → 15/12/21
Project: Research
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COVID-19: Pedagogical Opportunities for students' Online Inquiry-Based-Learning
Kidman, G., Ellis, K., Kewalramani, S. & Tan, H.
1/10/20 → 31/12/21
Project: Research
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Engaged Exchanges: Teaching and integrating inquiry learning in online environments
Kidman, G., Tan, H., Kewalramani, S., Ellis, K., Rady, D., Kinnaird, N., Daujat, S. & Bourke, S.
27/10/20 → 10/12/20
Project: Research
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BLCSI 2019: Building Leadership for Change through School Immersion 2019
Tudball, E., Adams, M., Lancaster, G., Johnson, L., Smith, K., Burke, G., Rady, D., Round, P., George, S., Welch, R., Pruyn, M., Creely, E., Gesthuizen, R., Tan, H., Burke, J., Mansfield, J., Clarke, S., Kewalramani, S., McLeod, A., Kalogeropoulos, P. & Ozzimo, C.
15/04/19 → 14/02/20
Project: Research
Research output
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The interplay of acculturation attitudes, cultural beliefs and educational values in negotiating my identity as an Indo-Australian academic
Kewalramani, S., 2021, Asian Women, Identity and Migration: Experiences of Transnational Women of Indian Origin/Heritage. Belford, N. & Lahiri-Roy, R. (eds.). 1st ed. Abingdon UK: Routledge, p. 56-67 12 p. (Routledge Studies in Asian Diasporas, Migrations and Mobilities).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (Book) › Other › peer-review
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Understanding early childhood science education: comparative analysis of Australian and Finnish curricula
Havu-Nuutinen, S., Kewalramani, S., Veresov, N., Pöntinen, S. & Kontkanen, S., 18 Jan 2021, (Accepted/In press) In : Research in Science Education. 16 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Building leadership for change in STEM through professional learning with Kingdom of Saudi Arabian teachers
Kewalramani, S., Adams, M. & Cooper, R., 26 Jun 2020, p. 50. 1 p.Research output: Contribution to conference › Abstract
Open AccessFile -
Children’s engineering design thinking processes: the magic of the ROBOTS and the power of BLOCKS (electronics)
Kewalramani, S., Palaiologou, I. & Dardanou, M., 2020, In : Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education. 16, 3, 14 p., em1830.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile2 Citations (Scopus) -
How parents engaged and inspired their young children to learn science in the later years: a story of 11 immigrant parents in Australia
Kewalramani, S., Phillipson, S. & Belford, N., 2020, (Accepted/In press) In : Research in Science Education. 16 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Prizes
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Best Technical Presentation and Research Contribution Award.
Kewalramani, Sarika (Recipient), 2016
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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European Science Education Research Association - ESERA Travel Award
Kewalramani, Sarika (Recipient), 20 Feb 2019
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Activities
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Clayton Festival- Community engagement in early childhood STEM education
Sarika Kewalramani (Contributor), Gillian Kidman (Contributor) & Hazel Tan (Contributor)
23 Feb 2020Activity: Community Talks, Presentations, Exhibitions and Events › Public event
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Dealing with parental pressure for high school students' mental and academic well being
Sarika Kewalramani (Contributor)
25 Feb 2020Activity: Community Talks, Presentations, Exhibitions and Events › Public lecture/debate/seminar
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Steminar-hands-on-stem-lessons-from-early-childhood-education
Sarika Kewalramani (Contributor)
12 Nov 2019Activity: Community Talks, Presentations, Exhibitions and Events › Public lecture/debate/seminar
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Conference of the European Science Education Research Association 2019
Sarika Kewalramani (Organiser)
26 Aug 2019Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to conference
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European Early Childhood Education Research Association (EECERA) Conference 2019
Sarika Kewalramani (Organiser)
21 Aug 2019Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to conference
Press / Media
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Value of play based learning in prep school year
14/11/20
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Profile/Interview
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How to build a more inclusive STEM program in early childhood using robotics and conductive blocks
Sarika Kewalramani, Kirsten Ellis & Gillian Kidman
4/06/20
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature
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How parents with young children can manage schooling in the age of COVID-19
4/05/20
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature
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How parents with young children can manage schooling in the age of COVID-19
25/03/20
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature
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Early Childhood Resource Hub newsletter - Digital Technologies
11/10/19
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature