Associate Professor Bronwyn Cole

Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education) - Arts

Bronwyn Cole is the Associate Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education) - Arts at UWS. Bronwyn has been Associate Head of the School of Education and Head of Primary Education Programs. She continues to teach, research and write about primary curriculum and pedagogy, particularly in the area of Human Society and Its Environment (HSIE K-6), teacher pedagogy and student engagement. She has been awarded a national Australian Learning and Teaching Council Citation for her Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning.
Bronwyn is a foundation member of the internationally recognised Fair Go Research Team at UWS, focusing on teacher pedagogy and the engagement of students in schools in low socio-economic areas. She is also well known for and committed to her work with Storypath curriculum and pedagogy, a pedagogical approach that is successful in engaging students and enhancing their academic and social outcomes. Her current research projects include comparative studies of the Storypath approach in classrooms in Australia and USA, an extensive study of teachers who 'make a difference' to students in poverty, and an investigation of first year standards and curricula for Social Sciences and Humanities. She has also worked on several significant consultant research projects focusing on teaching and learning.

Portfolio Responsibilities

The Associate Pro Vice Chancellor (Education) - Arts portfolio responsibilities focus on enhancing the quality of learning, teaching, curriculum design and academic quality across the Schools of Education, Humanities and Communication Arts and Social Sciences and Psychology; and the Badanami Centre for Indigenous Education.

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Positions Current and Previous

Qualifications

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Awards

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Publications

Books

• Munns, G. Sawyer, W. Cole, B. (Eds) (2013). Exemplary Teachers of Students in Poverty. London: Routledge
• McGuire, M. & Cole, B. (2011). Solving Problems in the Park: Developing young citizens. Culver City: Social Studies School Service
• McGuire, M., & Cole, B., (Eds) (2010). Making a Difference: Revitalizing elementary Social Studies. Washington DC: NCSS
• Cole, B. & Wilson, W. (1993). Jacaranda Junior Atlas. Brisbane: Jacaranda Wiley Pty Ltd.

Book Chapters

• Cole, B. Mooney, M. & Power, A. (2013). Imagination, creativity and intellectual quality, in Munns, G. Sawyer, W. Cole, B. (Eds)Exemplary Teachers of Students in Poverty. London: Routledge
• Cole, B. Mooney, M. & Nanlohy, P (2013). Student voice, in Munns, G. Sawyer, W. Cole, B. (Eds)Exemplary Teachers of Students in Poverty. London: Routledge
• Cole, B. (2010). Engaging pedagogies in elementary social studies, in McGuire, M. & Cole, B. (Eds) Making a Difference: Revitalizing Elementary Social Studies. Washington D.C.: NCSS
• McGuire, M. & Cole, B. (2010). Using narrative to enhance learning through Storypath, in McGuire, M. & Cole, B. (Eds) Making a Difference:Revitalizing Elementary Social Studies. Washington DC: NCSS
• McGuire, M., Cole, B., Alleman, J. & Boyle-Baise, M. (2010). Weaving it altogether, in McGuire, M. & Cole, B. (Eds) Making a Difference: Revitalizing Elementary Social Studies. Washington DC: NCSS
• Cole, B., Apostolovski, S., Foord, K. (2007). Storypath and engagement. In Fair Go Team (Eds.), School is for me: Pathways to student engagement. Sydney: NSW DET.

Refereed Journal articles

• Cole, B. & McGuire, M. (2012).Real-World Problems: Engaging young learners in critical thinking. Social Studies and the Young Learner 24 (4), 15-17
• Cole, B. & McGuire, M. (2011). The Challenge of the Community Park: Engaging young children in powerful lessons in democracy. Social Studies and the Young Learner 24 (1), 24-28
• McGuire, M. & Cole, B. (2008). Democracy in Action: Making Local Government Understandable to Low Socio-Economic Students. The Social Studies, 99(2), 85-90
• McGuire, M. & Cole, B. (2007). Teaching Literacy and Social Studies through the Use of Narrative. Social Studies Journal. Vol XXXV1. Spring 2007. Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Council for the Social Studies
• McGuire, M. & Cole, B. (2006). Teaching Social Studies and Literacy through the Use of Narrative.  Leaders of Learners. Texas: Texas Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD)
• McGuire, M. & Cole, B. (2005). Using Storypath to give young learners a fair start  Social Studies and the Young Learner, 18(2), 20-23.

Grants

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Reports

• Cole, B., Mooney, M., Munns, G., Power, A., Sawyer, W., & Zammit, K. (2010), Engaging middle years boys in rural educational settings. Sydney: NSW Department of Education and Training
• Zammit, K., Sinclair, C., Cole, B., Singh, M., Costley, D. Brown a’Court, L. & Rushton, K., (2007). Teaching and leading for quality Australian schools: A review and synthesis of research-based knowledge. Canberra: Teaching Australia: Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership.

Consultancy Publications

• Cole, B. (2002). Youth injury prevention: Risk Taking. Sydney: Youthsafe
• Cole, B. & Kennelly, P. (1997).What are our responsibilities as members of the South Creek Catchment. Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Management Trust
• Cole, B. & Newell, S. (1997). Investigating and Caring for the South Creek Catchment. Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Management Trust
• Cole, B. & Newell, S. (1997). Investigating and Caring for the Cattai Catchment. Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment Management Trust
• Cole, B. & Newell, S. (1996). Spinesafe Teacher Resource Materials. Sydney: Spinesafe Unit
• Cole, B. & Newell, S. (1996). Sydney Buses: K.I.D.S.: Bus Safety Program. Sydney
• Cole, B., Newell, S & Stubbs, B (1996). Global Education Teacher Resource Kit: How can I be a responsible global citizen? Sydney: United Nations and AIDAB.

National and International Conference Presentations

• Cole, B. & McGuire, M. (2012). Employing imagination and creativity to facilitate learning for every student in an increasingly multicultural nation and world. Paper presented at the International Assembly of the Annual Conference of the National Council for the Social Studies, Seattle, November 20.
• Cole, B. & McGuire, M. (2012). Learning for environmental sustainability. Paper presented at the 92nd Annual Conference of the National Council for the Social Studies, Seattle, November 20.
• Cole, B. & McGuire, M. (2011).Developing Children’s Social and Cultural Understandings: Pathways to Student Engagement . Paper presented at the 91st Annual Conference of the National Council for the Social Studies, Washington DC, November, 2011
• Cole, B. & McGuire, M. (2011). The Power of Narrative and Inquiry for Developing Young Children’s Academic Language. Paper presented at the International Assembly of the 91st Annual Conference of the National Council for the Social Studies, Washington DC, November, 2011
• Cole, B. & McGuire, M. (2011). Problem-Based Learning to Integrate Elementary Social Studies and Literacy Learning. Workshop presented at the National Council for the Social Studies Annual Conference, Washington DC, 2011
• Alleman, J. Boyle-Baise, M., Cole, B, & McGuire, M. (2010). Vital Issues Session Revitalizing Elementary Social Studies: Multiple Approaches for Meaningful Learning Paper presented at the National Council for the Social Studies Annual Meeting, Denver, November, 2010
• Cole, B. & McGuire, M. (2010) Developing young children’s social and cultural understandings through narrative, imagination and role play. Paper presented at the CUFA Annual Meeting, National Council for the Social Studies Annual Meeting, Denver, November, 2010
• Cole, B. & McGuire, M. (2010) Making Global Connections through Soup. Paper presented at the International Assembly, National Council for the Social Studies Annual Meeting, Denver, November, 2010
• Cole, B. & McGuire, M. (2010) Developing Global Understanding in Young Children: The Soup Company Storypath. Paper presented at the SEAA Annual Conference: Adelaide, January, 2010
• Fair Go Team. (2009). Teachers for a Fair Go. Symposium presented at the Australian Association for Research in Education Annual Conference, Canberra, December, 2009
• Cole, B. & McGuire, M. (2009). Social Studies in the early years: developing social and cultural understandings through narrative, imagination and role play. Paper presented at the 2009 Conference of College and University Faculty Assembly (CUFA), Atlanta, November, 2009
• McGuire, M., Cole, B. & Alleman, J. (2009). Vital Issues Session - Multiple approaches for designing meaningful Social Studies units. Paper presented at 89th Annual Conference of the National Council for the Social Studies: Dreams and Deeds, Atlanta, November, 2009
• Cole, B. & McGuire, M. (2008).Engaging Second Language Learners in Inquiry-Based Learning: The Storypath Approach. Paper presented at the International Assembly of the 88th Annual Conference of the National Council for the Social Studies, Houston, Texas, November, 2008
• Cole, B. (2007). Vital Issues Session - Promising Practices for Revitalizing Elementary Social Studies: The Storypath Approach. Paper presented at the 87th NCSS Conference: Building Bridges, Crossing Borders, San Diego., December, 2007
• Cole, B. & McGuire, M. (2007) Is this real? Provoking imagination, engagement and excellence amongst learners in low SES school communities. Paper presented at the 5th International Conference on Imagination and Education Imaginative Education Research Group July 18 - 21, 2007
• Cole, B. & McGuire, M. (2006). Storypath: Fostering Active Civic Participation Together with Authentic Literacy Experiences. Paper presented at the 86th NCSS Conference: Promise and Practice ‘06 , Washington D.C., November, 2006
• Cole, B. (2006). Are we there yet? Engaging learners through Storypath: A Fair Go for Learners. Paper presented at SEAA Biennial National Conference, Brisbane, January,2006
• Cole, B. & McGuire, M. (2005). Is this real?: Student engagement in Social Studies in low SES school communities. Paper presented at the 2005 Conference of the College and University Faculty Assembly, Kansas City, November, 2005
• Cole, B. & McGuire, M. (2005). Engagement through the design of the Storypath Approach: A Fair Go for Learners. Paper presented at the Twelfth International Conference on Learning, Granada, Spain, July, 2005
• Cole, B. (2005). What is Storypath? How is it engaging?. Paper presented at NSWDET PSFP conference, Sydney, August, 2005
• Cole, B. & McGuire, M. (2004). Storypath, Engagement and Equity in Learning Achievement. Paper presented at American Educational Research Association Conference, San Diego,12 – 16 April, 2004
• Cole, B., Apostolovski, S. & Foord, K. (2002). Giving learners a 'fair go': Storypath, pedagogy and equality in South West Sydney. Paper presented at the Australian Association for Research in Education Annual Conference, Brisbane, December, 2002
• Cole, B. & McGuire, M. (2002). Young children's construction of understanding about families and citizenship using Storypath. Paper presented at the 2002 Conference of the College and University Faculty Assembly, Phoenix, November, 2002
• Cole, B. & McGuire, M. (2002). Giving Learners a 'Fair Go': Storypath, pedagogy and equality. Paper presented at the NCSS Annual Conference, Phoenix., November, 2002
• Cole, B. & McGuire, M. (2001). STORYPATH: A cross cultural study of children’s construction of Social Studies understandings. Paper presented at the American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting: What we know and how we know it. Seattle, U.S.A. April, 2001
• Cole, B. (2000). Preparing primary teachers for democratic citizenship education: some challenges and suggestions. Paper presented at the SLO International Conference: Emerging Democracies, Citizenship and Human Rights Education. Enschede, Netherlands. June 2000
• Cole, B. (2000). Learning to teach in collective, democratic ways. Paper presented at the Fifth NCSS International Social Studies Conference: Forum 2000: Building Democratic Villages. Calgary, Canada. July 2000

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State and Local Conference presentations and workshops

• Cole, B. (2012). Engaging students through the Story Path Approach: Narrative, imagination, role play and intellectually challenging tasks. Workshop for School of Education, Education Knowledge Network (12 teachers – variety of GW Sydney schools), June, 2012
• Cole, B. & Fraser, K. (2011). The Park Storypath. Workshop presented at TOPS session for Lansvale P.S., May, 2011. (Kim is the Assistant Principal at Lansvale P.S.)
• Cole, B. (2011). The Story Path Approach: Engaging students through narrative, imagination, role play and intellectually challenging tasks. Workshop for School of Education, Education Knowledge Network (25 teachers – variety of GW Sydney schools), March, 2011
• Cole, B. (2010) Storypath: developing social and cultural understandings, and literacy, through narrative, imagination and role play. Workshop presented at Widemere P.S. Professional Development Day, December 2010 (3 schools)
• Cole, B. & Mansfield, M. (2010). Storypath in the early years: developing social and cultural understandings, and literacy, through narrative, imagination and role play. Workshop presented at Prairievale P.S. Professional Development Day, December 2010
• Cole, B. & Mansfield, M. (2010). Storypath in the early years: developing social and cultural understandings, and literacy, through narrative, imagination and role play. Workshop presented at Lansvale P.S. Professional Development Day, December 2010 (3 schools)
• Cole, B. & Mansfield, M. (2010). Storypath in the early years: developing social and cultural understandings, and literacy, through narrative, imagination and role play. Paper presented at Fairfield District Principal’s conference, Wollongong, June 2010
• Sawyer, W., Cole, B., Zammit, K. & Munns, G. (2009). MeE in practice: demonstrating the implementation of the Motivation and Engagement framework. Paper presented at the 4th Biennial Equity Conference: Innovate, Educate, Communicate. Sydney Convention Centre, September, 2009
• Cole, B. (2009). Engaging HSIE approaches and the National Curriculum. Workshop for Liverpool District HSIE leaders, Liverpool Boys H.S., September 2009.(6 schools)
• Cole, B. (2008). Engaging students with Storypaths. Workshop presented at Hoxton Park P.S. Staff Meeting, September 2008. (1 schools)
• Cole, B. (2008). Quality Writing from the Ridge. Workshops with Sherwood Ridge P.S. as AGQTP Partner 2008.
• Cole, B. (2007). Leading the way to a quality school. Workshops with King Park P.S. as AGQTP Partner 2007
• Cole, B., Campbell, A & Plunkett, A. (2007). Journey to engagement. Invited presentation at NSW AGQTP Annual Conference, Mascot, August 2007
• Cole, B. (2006) Storypath and student engagement. Workshops with Coffs Harbour P.S. as AGQTP Partner 2006
• Cole, B. (2006). Engaging students with Storypaths. Workshop presented at St Johns Park P.S. Professional Development Day, October 2006. (2 schools)
• Cole, B. (2005). Storypath and student engagement. Paper presented at Riverina Region PSP Conference, Narranderra, October 2005
• Cole, B. (2005). What is Storypath? How is it engaging?. Paper presented at NSWDET PSFP conference, Sydney, August, 2005
• Cole, B. (2005) What is Storypath? How is it engaging? Workshop presented at South Western Sydney Regional Principals’ Conference, Liverpool, May 2005
• Cole, B. & McGuire, M. (2003). The Storypath approach to improving literacy outcomes of students through HSIE K-6. Invited paper at the NSW PSFP Team Training Conference, Sydney, July 2003
• Cole, B. (1999). Understanding and implementing the Human Society and Its Environment K-6 Syllabus. Keynote address given at the NSW Human Society and Its Environment Council Implementation Conference, Sydney, January, 1999
• Cole, B. (1998). Beliefs about and practices in teaching Human Society and Its Environment in primary teacher education students. Paper presented at the 1998 Post Graduate Seminar, University of Sydney, October, 1998
• Cole, B. (1997). Implementing Global Education Teacher Resource Kit: How can I be a responsible global citizen? Workshop presented at the NSW Human Society and Its Environment Council Summer School Conference, Sydney, January, 1997
• Cole, B. (1997). Implementing Global Education Teacher Resource Kit: How can I be a responsible global citizen? Workshop presented at the ACT SOSE Teachers Conference, Canberra, January, 1997
• Cole, B. (1994). Your Vote Counts! Workshop presented at NSW Human Society and Its Environment Council Inservice Conference, Sydney, July, 1994
• Cole, B. (1993). The Place of Human Society and Its Environment in the curriculum. Keynote address given at the NSW Human Society and Its Environment Council Inservice Conference, Sydney, July, 1993.
• Cole, B. (1992). Australia and Japan – A Scottish Storyline Approach. Workshop presented at the NSW Human Society and Its Environment Council Inservice Conference, Making Sense of the Curriculum, Newtown, January, 1992.

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Professional Memberships

• 2010-Present -  Associate Deans of Arts, Social Science and Humanities Learning and teaching Network
• 1991-Present - Social Education Association of Australia (SEAA)
• 2007-2008 Vice President  and reviewer of The Social Educator 2007-2012
• 1991-Present - National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS), USA
• 2005-2008 - Secretary/Treasurer of the International Assembly
• 2010-2011 - Australian Institute of Company Directors
• 2008-2011 - Australian Council of Deans of Education
• 2006-2011 - NSW Teacher Education Council
• 1991-1998 - NSW Board of Studies Human Society and Its Environment K-6 Writing Group, Tertiary Education representative
• 1983-2000 - Human Society and Its Environment Council (formerly St George Council for the Social Studies)
• 1993-5 President.

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