Sarika has been a primary/secondary science, chemistry and mathematics teacher for 10 years in Melbourne, Australia. Her versatile experiences in K-12 contexts, previous Monash university research studies, affiliation with primary and secondary public schools 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.

Her current roles as an early years/primary science lecturer has driven her research interests in the area of preschool science curriculum and pedagogy and inquiry based practices. Sarika's current research projects involve conceptualising kindergarten and preprimary teacher's understanding of both play and inquiry based pedagogies and programs in ways that promote and meaningfully engage young children's learning of science and integration of technology (robotics/IoToys). Exploring parental engagement in young children's science and digital technology experiences in early years is her other area of expertise and she also uses multi-mixed method approaches.    

Sarika has gained further understanding on research in the early childhood science discipline through being an active teacher member of Museums Victoria and Scienceworks that have equipped her with relevant industry knowledge. She is also an active member of European Science Education Research Association (ESERA) and Co-convenor of European Early Childhood Education Research Association (EECERA) SIG 'Digital Childhoods, STEM and Multimodality' where she leads the STEM workstream.  

Sarika has recently designed and implements a Monash short course (one day workshop) for 'Coding and Robotics in early childhood education'. For more info please visit https://www.monash.edu/education/short-courses/early-childhood/coding-and-robotics-in-early-childhood-education. 

Sarika also offers PD programs/webinars for EC educators focusing on best international STEM-based practices to promote children's design play and inquiry thinking processes. You can follow Sarika on her facebook - https://www.facebook.com/stemirific/ and Twitter @sararamani77 

EDF 1061 - Working in education: An introduction to the profession 

EDF1062 - Approaches to teaching and learning

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