Murray School of Education
Dr RichardTaffe
DipT Northern Rivers C.A.E., BA N.E., MEd Syd PhD Syd
Course Coordinator: Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood)
Position: Lecturer
Campus: Thurgoona
Room: 108
Phone: (02) 605 19408
Fax: (02) 605 19424
Email: rtaffe@csu.edu.au
Biography
Richard has an extensive background in education, particularly in primary school teaching. He completed initial teacher training in NSW in 1981 and commenced teaching in 1982 in metropolitan Sydney. Over the following 10 years Richard worked in a variety of schools in Sydney including 12 months working for NSW Youth and Community Services in disability services. In 1993 Richard joined the NSW Department of School Education’s Selective High Schools Unit and in 1995 commenced working with Charles Sturt University. He is presently the Course Coordinator for the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood & Primary), Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood), and Bachelor of Educational Studies programs across the University.
Apart from initial teacher training qualifications Richard holds a Bachelor’s degree in Arts (History) from the University of New England and a Master’s degree in Education from University of Sydney. Richard’s doctorate completed through the University of Sydney explored the use of self-as-model procedures in social skills training programs with young aggressive-rejected children. He has presented on his findings at international early childhood conferences in South East Asia and Europe.
Richard’s research interests include the measurement of social self-efficacy in educational contexts, educational options for children with disabilities, the treatment of literacy difficulties in regular and special education settings, deafness and English literacy learning, and professional development of pre-service and novice teachers.
Research
- Member of research team lead by Prof. Sue Dockett and Prof. Bob Perry examining student and staff perceptions of Assessment in the Faculty of Education.
- Member of research team lead by Prof. Sue Dockett and Prof. Bob Perry examining the transition to school in South Australia.
Teaching
The range of subjects taught include:
- Introductory courses in Primary Education (undergraduate and postgraduate level)
- Early childhood literacy studies
- Early childhood mathematics studies
- Child development (Birth to 12 Years)
- Special needs/ Diverse learners studies
- Current recipient of a Flexible Learning Institute fellowship 2009-2010.
- Currently hold position of CSU Teacher Leader for my ‘sustained high quality contributions’ to the development of University Teaching and Learning at Charles Sturt University.
Professional Engagement
- Australian Association of Special Education
- Australian Association for Research in Education
- Early Intervention Australia (Victorian Chapter)
- Australian Teacher Education Association
Present University Service/ Committee membership:
- Academic Programs Committee
- Faculty of Education Courses Committee
- Faculty of Science Courses Committee
- Murray School of Education School Board
- Murray School of Education Research Committee
- Murray School of Education School Assessment Committee
- University Ethics in Human Research (on call member)
- Registered Charles Sturt University Research Supervisor (List A)
- Course Coordinator: Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood & Primary); BEd (Early Childhood); BEducational Studies.
Publications
- Taffe, R. & Munday, J. (2006). Learning about learning through teaching. International Journal of Learning, 12, pp.333-340.
- Taffe, R. (2005) Growing up: 0-6. In Does this child need help? 2nd Edn. Australian Early Intervention Association: Sydney. pp. 47-69.
- Munday, J. & Taffe, R. (2004). An investigation into the way student teachers transfer their own learning strategies to help children learn. International Journal of Learning, 11, 999-1005.
- King, J. & Taffe, R. (2004) ‘How shall we sign that?’: Interactions between a profoundly deaf tutor and tutee involved in a cross-age paired reading program. Australasian Journal of Special Education, 27, (2), 68-85.