Susan Edwards

Biography

Susan Edwards is Professor of Education in the Learning Sciences Institute of Australia (LSIA), Australian Catholic University, where she currently directs the Early Childhood Futures research program. Her research investigates the role of play-based learning in the early childhood curriculum for the 21st century. Professor Edwards has completed work as a Chief Investigator on two Australian Research Council Discovery Grants. The first examining play-based learning in early childhood education settings, and the second the role of play-based learning in wellbeing and sustainability education. She is currently the lead Chief Investigator on an Australian Research Council Discovery Grant on digital play and an Australian Research Council Linkage Project investigating best practice for playgroups-in-schools.

Susan has over 70 publications in peer reviewed journals, and has published several books with publishers including Cambridge University Press, McMillan and Open University Press.  Professor Edwards is the immediate past co-editor of the Asia Pacific Journal of Teacher Education and is currently on the editorial board for three journals (Early Years: International Journal of Research and Practice; Journal of Early Childhood Research; Australasian Journal of Early Childhood).

Professor Edwards is also a winner of several awards for teaching excellence in the tertiary education sector, including a prestigious Australian Learning and Teaching Council award in 2009.

Education

PhD, Monash University Australia (2004)
Bachelor of Education, RMIT University Australia (2000)

Areas of Research / Professional Expertise

Digital technologies in early childhood education

Play-based learning

Sustainability and wellbeing education in early childhood

Websites

• Current projects

• What to teach your preschooler about the internet

• Why even very young children need media literacy

Books