David Zyngier

If you have enjoyed one of my papers or would like to discuss any issue with me please email me at david.zyngier@education.monash.edu.au

Research Interests
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My research focuses on teacher pedagogies that engage all students but in particular how can these improve outcomes for students? from communities of disadvantage.

The ruMAD Program which I developed with teachers in 2001 was awarded the Garth Boomer Prize for its excellence in collaborative teaching and learning.
http://www.monash.edu.au/news/monashmemo/assets/includes/content/20091014/stories-more-uni-news1.html

I am Co-director (with Paul Carr) of the Global Doing Democracy Research Project http://doingdemocracy.ning.com an international project examining perspectives & perceptions of democracy in education to develop a robust & critical democratic education with over 50 researchers in 15 countries.

I am also currently researching teacher beliefs about their own pedagogical efficacy and their beliefs about students from Culturally, Linguistically and Economically Diverse (CLED) Communities. This research has an international focus working together with academics both in Texas and Canada.

I am Director of E-LINCs (Enhanced Learning through Networked Communities). This innovative research commenced in July 2009 is a located in two state primary schools in the Southern Metropolitan Region with students from Cultural Linguistic and Economically Diverse (CLED) communities where many students are experiencing learning difficulties and school engagement problems as a result of their socio-economic and cultural diversity. Both schools have communities characterised by up to 40 nationalities in each school and up to 36 languages spoken by its children and families. Recent refugees from Africa and Asia as well as Cook Island migrants make up a significant proportion of the school population. The project was featured in a national paper on Monday August 24, 2009 http://www.theage.com.au/national/education/homework-horrors-20090821-et5j.html?page=-1
This pilot project researches new approaches and innovative solutions that rely on grass roots partnerships rather than top down government interventions. Our focus is on the well documented problem of CLED children’s disengagement from their academic learning which is evident in both the primary schools in this project. Student disengagement is a global phenomenon, in particular has been highlighted in recent Australian and Victorian research.

My Research Students
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I am actively seeking research students in my research interest areas. Please contact me!

* Linda Stanton "What does engaging pedagogy look like in my classroom?"

* Meredith O'Bree M.Ed. Research Project "Despite working in a highly multicultural environment, in a school that acknowledges the requirement to engage with student difference and diversity, teachers continue to maintain deficit attitudes to diversity within their classrooms that impact negatively on student outcomes"

* Emma Clark "An investigation into the relationship between student voice and connectedness"

* Carice Williams "Can teaching styles contribute to the outcomes for boys' education?"

* Teresa Reynolds "The impact of teaching styles on student engagement"

* Sitwat Saeed: "How the intrinsic and extrinsic motivation differently relates to the academic achievement of grade five students?"

* Pei Lin Soo "The views of preschool teachers, parents, the media and the Singapore government towards the inclusion of children of early years with special needs into mainstream preschools"

*Amanda Pinto "Differentiation and Inclusion and Student Engagement"

* Eloise Cole "Teachers as Policy Producers in the Classroom"

I work within a critical and post-structural orientation to pedagogy that is distinguishable by its commitment to social justice (with interests in who benefits and who does not by particular social arrangements) and its dialectic critical method investigating how school education can improve student outcomes for all but in particular for at risk students.

Professional Associations
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* Australian Association for Research in Education (AARE)
* Australian Teacher Education Association(ATEA)
* Australian Curriculum Studies Association (ACSA)
* The Australian Council for Educational Leaders (ACEL)

Education Background
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I was formerly an Education Consultant and school principal at The King David School. I have taught in government secondary schools (Ballam Park Technical School, Jordanville Technical School and Ashwood High School).

In 1998 I developed the Get the Shots Hepatitis B Immunisation Program for Pre Adolescents & Video on behalf of Department of Human Services & Royal Children's Hospital. I completed the development of the ruMAD? Program Kids Making a Difference in the Community for the Education Foundation of Victoria. In 2002 I developed an alternate education and community capacity building proposal Boonadjalang for the Norris Nepean Barracks, commissioned by the LLEN, local secondary schools and other organisations.

In 2003, with AP Trevor Gale, I completed research on the effectiveness of "Non Systemic and Non Traditional Programs" in addressing student disengagement with learning for the Frankston Mornington Peninsula Local Learning and Employment Network. In 2004 I commenced a new research project, Key-Makers: Advancing Student Engagement through Changed Teaching Practice. In 2004 I was part of a team conducting a program and literature review on student risk and disengagement for the CASS Foundation. In 2005 I was responsible for the Pines Connecting the Community Project Evaluation on behalf of the Frankston City Council.

I have been a presenter at various Education Conferences including Discourse Power & Resistance at Plymouth Uiversity (UK) in 2005; AARE International Conferences (2003, 2004, 2005), ACSA International Conference (Adelaide 2003), Victorian Student Representative Council Conference (2003) Social Educators Association of Australia National Conference (July 2003) and the International Federation of Teachers of English Conference (July 2003), the Education Foundation Summit (2002), NASPAC 6 (2002) the Annual GTAV and AGTA Conferences in 2001 and 2002 where I delivered papers concerning student empowerment and school-community activism. I have also had papers accepted for presentation at the Social Educators Association of Australia National Conference (July 2003) and the International Federation of Teachers of English Conference (July 2003). I was a keynote speaker and presenter at the "Putting the Dot in Philanthropy" conference (April 2000) speaking on the topic of using the Web to deliver educational programs.

Keynote Presentations
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I am regularly asked by schools and teacher/subject organisations to speak about the developments in pedagogy in Australia. I also conduct workshops for students and teachers; at Haileybury College on "Community Connectedness" for over 40 students (February 2004), presented a briefing to FMP principals and the community on the results of the recent LLEN Research (April 2004) and was the keynote speaker at the Engine Innovate National Conference on Youth in 2004 and 2005. I presented a Keynote address for the City of Casey in 2005 on Student Engagement and (non)Attendance.

Community Service
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* Education Foundation
* r.u.MAD